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Sometime in 2007, Guy Kawasaki replied to an email of mine, saying:
“If you still haven’t reached your goals, you’re not trying hard enough!”
I nodded my head in agreement. It was exactly how I felt – all the time.
Every Type A personality, every compulsive workaholic, every ambitious over-achiever will likely empathize.
And as I look back on 2009, viewing the year that was through the lens of a powerful message taught by the writing of Eckhart Tolle, I realize my big mistake.
“A New Earth” is the most insightful and eye-opening book I’ve read this year. Perhaps in the last many years. Victor Frankl’s “Man’s Search for Meaning” comes closest in personal impact on my life and thinking.
And understanding my big mistake has a major role in defining my only New Year’s resolution for 2010.
What is it?
Before I tell you, allow me to ramble a bit on resolutions. I was reading a tiny little book by my assistant called “39 Ways To Making New Year Resolutions That Stick – All Year Round!“.
It made me think about how the meaning of resolutions differs among people.
For some, survival is a resolution. Or keeping someone special alive. I work with many of these families in my professional career. Parents of kids born with life-threatening heart defects.
To others, resolutions are about becoming better in some way. Losing weight. Stopping smoking. Getting more exercise. Being happier. Or something else.
And a few resolve to become great, stretch their personal limits, reach their fullest potential.
It is all a continuum – from survival, to betterment, to soaring to supreme heights.
Yet, none is better or worse than the other.
It is all perfect.
That’s the perspective Eckhart Tolle’s writing has brought powerfully home to me. I once blamed myself for not doing or being more, took but passing satisfaction in what I achieved, while yearning for what more needed to be done.
And in doing this, I now realize that special accomplishments weren’t cherished as much as they should be.
This year, my non-profit, The Dr.Mani Children Heart Foundation, sponsored TWENTY FOUR operations (we’ve done 55 since starting in 2003). Yet, until I sat down to review this performance, and paused to listen to the “stillness within”, I had chosen to focus restlessly on the 50,000+ more that are awaiting treatment – and echoing the Kawasakian message of “I’m not trying hard enough”!
Enough of that, I said to myself. 2010 will have but ONE resolution.
To cherish the moment – as it unfolds.
Every moment.
Every day.
Every year.
You?
39 Proven Ways To Keep Your New Year Resolutions – All Year Long!
How To Create An Action Plan And Achieve Your Goals Easily
By Eleanor Lancaster
{ 1 comment }
I think taking the time to really see just how far we’ve come and how much we’ve accomplished is a form of gratitude! And humility!
Happy New Year!!!
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