Viva la Resolution … A Luta Continua
Or … The more things change, the more they stay the same
Before I begin … a very happy and blessed 2018 to all of you. May you achieve more than you dreamed, and yet, dream still more than you achieve.
On the 21st of November, 2017, Zimbabwe finally managed to “persuade” Robert Mugabe to relinquish his 37-year-long, self-enriching, nation-breaking, dictatorial presidency. This all came about by means of a very African “non-coup” by the Zimbabwean military “for the good of the country”. Mugabe’s resignation/ousting was met with great joy and celebration by the vast majority of Zimbabwean citizens. It also resulted in widespread conjecture, throughout southern Africa, regarding the positive potential of this massive, unexpected change. Many South Africans, with dreams of getting rid of our own less-than-ideal president, Jacob Zuma, hoped that such change might be infectious.
Before I go any further, let me say that, for all we know, the new president of Zimbabwe may do a great job. He may begin the process of restoring the Zimbabwean economy, and setting the country back on the road to prosperity. However, the new president of Zimbabwe is Emmerson Mnangagwa, a man with a rather shady political past — so, who knows? In fact, that is my point.
The history of political change, throughout time and space, indicates that any “true change” in the Zimbabwean situation, would be extremely surprising. What’s more, I’m not just talking about African politics.
A large number of US citizens thought that Bush Snr was the worst president ever … but that was before Clinton did what he did, and was fired. So, along came Bush Jnr, with his wars, bumbling, and unanswered questions about the CIA, 9/11, and Iraqi WMDs. The country couldn’t wait to get rid of him in favour of Obama … who promised an end to war, but was actually responsible for the deaths of more people than any other “peacetime” US president. Then came Trump … and I’ll say no more on that.
No, I’m not knocking USA politics here. Its not really significantly different (neither better nor worse) to politics anywhere else. I’m just using it as a very visible, internationally known example. In fact, unless you live in Iceland, you probably want to get rid of your current crop of political leaders for the very reason that they are just as bad, if not worse than their predecessors.
My point is this :
The more things change, the more they stay the same. After every victory, a luta continua — the struggle continues.
In politics, this means that we get rid of a “bad” government/president, and replace it with one that ends up being just as bad, if not worse — just in different ways (maybe). This is true of almost every nation on earth.
So, let me get to the sharp end of my introduction :
New years should be approached with the same blend of bright hope, blind optimism, caution, and outright pessimism, as any new government/president, and for exactly the same reasons.
A new year promises change that seldom, if ever actually happens. In other words, new years are the politicians of chronology.
Statistically, at least 25% of all New Year’s resolutions don’t make it past the first week of the year, and over 40% fail completely by the end of January.
Of course, there’s always that other, rather smug group, off to one side, who proudly claim not to make New Year’s resolutions at all. Well, statistically speaking, theirs is the highest, and fastest failure rate of all. They essentially make a resolution not to make a resolution, and thus, fail immediately.
So, why do we bother with New Year’s resolutions … and more importantly, should we bother with them?
Surprisingly, the answer is “YES”, we should make resolutions, both at the start of a year, and during the year.
Statistically, the act of making a resolution, results in a ten times greater chance of success in your endeavour.
However, if our resolutions are to be truly meaningful and successful — if we want to beat the odds — we need to change the way we :
- define resolutions
- act on our resolutions
What is a resolution really?
When most of us speak about making a resolution, we mean we’ve made a decision to do something differently. So, usually at the beginning of a year — because its a useful chronological marker —I decide to lose weight, get fitter, work harder or smarter, learn something new, etc. Mostly, these resolutions involve changing something that I’m not happy with in myself, or my life.
Well, you all know, and statistics (above) confirm, that we seldom achieve our desired results. In fact, we usually fail so spectacularly, that our self-confidence for change is severely damaged.
If you look in a dictionary — unsurprisingly, a very good place to ascertain the meaning of words — you’ll find 10 to 15 different, contextual definitions of the word “resolution”. Isn’t English wonderful?
At first glance, this may seem really confusing. However, there is an underlying, universal definition, that flows through all these different contextual definitions.
This is true, whether you’re resolving a musical chord, viewing the optical/digital resolution of an image, reviewing a legislative resolution, making a New Year’s resolution, or resolving a bug in your program code. There is a common, defining thread that runs through them all.
Let me attempt to put it into words as clearly as I’m able:
Resolution :— A firm decision to achieve a state of desired, planned purpose, balance, and/or clarity, that is other than the current state.
How to act on resolutions
Successful resolution requires the following:
- Recognition of the current state
- Desire/Motivation to change the current state
- Knowledge of the future, desired state, and how to achieve it
- Ability to alter X from its current state to its future state
- Course of action/plan to achieve the desired, future state from the starting point of the current state.
- Assessment, to measure progress toward the future state, or know when you’ve reached it.
Recognition
As TV’s Dr. Phil loves to say — “You can’t fix a problem until you admit that you have a problem.” It really is as simple, and as challenging as that.
Before any goal can be set, or achieved, one must first clearly and completely, state the problem/challenge/current state.
Desire/Motivation
Of course, its never enough to know that there is a problem, or that you want something you perceive as better than you already have/are. The vast majority of people are aware of problems in their lives, in society, at work, etc., but do nothing about them.
Most people remain mired within their “problem” state/s simply because they lack sufficient desire/motivation to change that state. Groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous speak about needing to “hit rock bottom”, in terms of finding this trigger-point for the desire/motivation to change.
It’s not enough to just want to be thinner, or fitter, or not be an addict. The process of change requires deep, ongoing desire and motivation.
Knowledge
Very simply, the deepest desire, and strongest motivation to change are useless without the knowledge of where you want to go.
It is not enough to run away from something. A successful resolution requires that you focus on, and move toward a known destination/state.
Ability
Once again, this is really simple in theory. All the knowledge in the world will not help your cause if you do not have the ability to achieve your desired, future state.
I’m a keen motorcyclist, and I have a more than average, theoretical knowledge of the skills required for motorcycle racing (of various kinds). However, if my forty-plus years of riding have taught me anything, it is that I do not have the abilities to be a successful motorcycle racer — in any race format.
Basically, it’s as simple as this. Don’t set resolutions that are beyond your abilities to achieve. To do so, is to set yourself up for failure.
Course of Action / Plan
This is the point at which most resolutions fail.
If you fail to plan — you plan to fail.
If I’ve made a resolution, then it’s safe to assume that I’ve recognised the problem, have the desire to change, and know what I want to achieve. Let’s also assume that my abilities are up to the task at hand.
That is true of almost everyone who make a New Year’s resolution. You know the problem. You know the desired, future state. You feel motivated to change, and you generally have the ability to change.
What most of us don’t have, is a clear, step-by-step plan of how we will get from where we are, to where we want to be.
Maybe it would help, if instead of calling it a New Year’s resolution, we called it a New Year’s Action Plan. I won’t get into goal-setting, or other aspects of strategic planning here, but I’ve previously written two articles on Creative Strategic Planning, that should get you well on your way.
Here are the links:
Suffice to say — treating your “resolution” as a “goal” will radically improve your success rate.
Assessment
What’s the use of taking a journey, if you don’t know if you’re on track, or even that you’ve already arrived?
Once again, I’m not going to go into detail here, because I deal with this in my Strategic Planning articles (links above).
One of the most frustrating and debilitating aspects of New Year’s resolutions, is the feeling you get when you fail. However, exactly the same feeling/s occur if you have succeeded (or are well on your way), but don’t know what you’ve succeeded.
Assessment is what keeps you going by providing positive, encouraging feedback on the way to your goal.
Assessment lets you know when you’ve reached your goal, and can move on to the next goal.
I hope you find this helpful. Once again, I wish you all a blessed and happy 2018.
With happiness in mind, here are Mr. Jokeman’s New Year’s resolutions for the past few years. I sincerely hope that yours look nothing like his.
RESOLUTION #1:
2012: I will get my weight down below 80kg.
2013: I will watch my calorie intake until I get below 90kg.
2014: I will follow my new diet religiously until I get below 110kg.
2015: I will try to develop a realistic & positive attitude about my weight.
2016: I will work out 5 days a week.
2017: I will work out 3 days a week.
2018: I will try to drive past a gym at least once a week.RESOLUTION #2:
2012: I will not spend my money frivolously.
2013: I will pay off my bank loan promptly.
2014: I will pay off all my bank loans and credit cards promptly.
2015: I will begin making a concerted effort to be out of debt by the end of this year.
2016: I will not incur any new debt and reduce my current debts by 50% before next year.
2017: I will try to pay off the interest on my debts by 2018.
2018: I will try to flee the country by the end of February.RESOLUTION #3:
2012: I will try to be a better husband to Marge.
2014: I will not leave Marge.
2016: I will try for a reconciliation with Marge.
2018: I will try to be a better husband to Wanda.
