Some of you reading this probably made New Year’s resolutions and have already dropped the ball. If so that makes you statistically normal, but probably not very happy. Often times we fail at things because we have a messed up motivation. Our heart simply isn’t in the task. Reflecting on you motivation whether you have a resolution or not.
I was reminded of the importance of this kind of reflection recently when I reviewed the book, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation
by Parker Palmer a writer, teacher and activist. Parker tells the story of struggling with a decision of whether or not to take a position as the President of a college. He is a Quaker and he availed himself of an awesome discernment tradition they have called a “clearness committee”. That is a group of people who refrain from giving you advice, but spend three hours with you asking honest, open questions to help you get at an answer.
by Parker Palmer a writer, teacher and activist. Parker tells the story of struggling with a decision of whether or not to take a position as the President of a college. He is a Quaker and he availed himself of an awesome discernment tradition they have called a “clearness committee”. That is a group of people who refrain from giving you advice, but spend three hours with you asking honest, open questions to help you get at an answer. At first the question were rather easy and then someone asked, “What would you like most about being a president?” After a long pause Parker started rattling off lots of things he wouldn’t like. Eventually, the questioner interjected, “May I remind you that I asked you what you would most like?” Parker explained that he was getting there. After a while the questioner interrupted him again. Parker felt compelled to finally answer the question, with the only honest, but appalling answer he could think of, “I guess what I’d like most is getting my picture in the paper with the word president under it.” After a long and serious silence one of the seasoned Quakers broke the now heavy mood and silence with the question, “Parker can you think of an easier way to get your picture in the paper?”
When what we really want is our picture in the paper, we set ourselves up for an experience of frustration. Examine your motives in both your resolutions and your life decisions. Ultimately, the answers you arrive at ought to answer the question, “How does this serve God?” If they don’t serve God in some way, reconsider what you are doing. For “No one can serve two masters. He will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Matthew 6:24. Jesus spoke these words specifically in the context of money, but they are so broadly applicable to our lives.
For those of you trying to stick at a resolution–Journal on why you want to do your resolution. When you find yourself struggling, go back and read what you wrote. It will motivate you and help you reevaluate why you are really doing what your doing.
Blessings from The Practical Disciple as you examine your motives.
p.s. Incidentally, Parker Palmer’s book, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation, is an awesome book for anyone struggle to answer the question, “What am I suppose to be doing with my life?” It is an easy and short read in which you get to walk along side Parker as he struggled with an evolving sense of vocation. You descend with him into the pit of depression and arise back out as he shares his own story. Along the way he shares some invaluable tools. This should probably be a standard issue item for anyone turning 40 and it wouldn’t hurt every college student to read it.
, is an awesome book for anyone struggle to answer the question, “What am I suppose to be doing with my life?” It is an easy and short read in which you get to walk along side Parker as he struggled with an evolving sense of vocation. You descend with him into the pit of depression and arise back out as he shares his own story. Along the way he shares some invaluable tools. This should probably be a standard issue item for anyone turning 40 and it wouldn’t hurt every college student to read it. 
I don’t make New Year’s Resolutions for the reason that they tend to fail. I have been working for a while now on my life in general. I am working on living more authentically. I am working on me, my relationships with God and hub, and my health. I am making steady progress but have a ways to go.