When I first posted about my decision to focus the year of 2013 on learning and practicing the art of giving, one of my readers and fellow bloggers (with a darn awesome blog whose content is close to my heart), Levi Clampitt, wrote in and said: “Giving: The #1 Depression Cure. It should be a pretty happy year for you, Bethany.”
For some reason, this really struck me. When I read the first line, I thought, “oh, cool.” But I didn’t think beyond that first phrase until I got to the second: “it should be a pretty happy year for you.” Glad he connected the dots for me, as I sure didn’t at first.
Something about those words stirred inside of me, as I felt their truth. “It should be a pretty happy year for you.” And I imagined the possibilities of my year if I really pursue this giving thing throughout the whole year. For the truth of these words goes only so far as I put the learning and practice of giving into action.
How to Keep a Resolution: Receive It As a Gift
As I imagined the possibilities, I had the distinct idea that my resolution was a gift.
Have you ever had a moment where you felt like you had been given a gift, a most awesome gift, and you looked at the package it was in and imagined this gift as a key to “the next door”? All you had to do was open the package, take the key and unlock that door, but unless you opened the package and used the key, that gift was useless.
When we create resolutions, what we are doing is nodding in agreement, accepting and making a pact with ourselves that we are going to change something in our lives. I suggest that a resolution comes to you from the future you. The future you says, “here. This is what you need to concentrate on right now. You can do it, or else I wouldn’t be here, giving this to you. All you have to do is open this gift (the resolution), and use the key that’s inside.”
The act of unwrapping that gift and using the key can be a slow and arduous one. I suggest that the “unwrapping” is the learning, which can be a combination of actual book learning, research, etc. as well as practicing (for we learn when and as we practice). At some point, the act of practicing turns into “doing” and it is at this point that we are, in essence, turning that key to “the next door” in the journey of our lives.
Keep Your Resolution: Imagine With Me
Now, I want you to think about a resolution you made for this year, or that you made last year, but dropped. Chances are, it was a resolution that would help to make you a better person, or get you to a place you would rather be. Now, as you are thinking of your resolution, imagine that it is “inside” a package–all wrapped up. Now look at the person holding that package–the you, deep down inside of you who nudged you to think about making this thing your resolution. Nobody knows you more than that person. And what you thought was a simple resolution, one that you could ignore in a few weeks, is really a beautiful gift that your future you is trying to get you to receive.
I challenge you to receive it with much gratitude. And if you haven’t already begun to open it with the act of learning and practicing, then do so. And learn and practice that resolution, learn and practice until you move beyond the practice and are “doing” that resolution, and you realize you have opened the gift, and used the key.
When I feel the joy of receiving a gift, my heart nudges me to join creation’s ballet, the airy dance of giving and receiving, and getting and giving again –Lewis Smedes.
Very well said sis. When you put it this way how could you not commit and open that beautiful gift. Very inspiring.
Thanks big brother.
Bethany you are such an inspiration! I love the idea of giving the whole year through. Nothing feels as good as being able to make someone else’s day. I am gonna have to start focusing on that.
Good to see you here, Christen!! I’m glad you found this inspiring to you and I hope that if you do concentrate on giving, that you remember that giving comes out of a heart of gratitude. That’s the first step.
This is so good for me to hear at this moment. I challenge myself all the time to meet a goal (resolution) it becomes work and not much fun at that. When seeing it as a gift it becomes something wonderful and worthy of my time and effort. There’s joy in that. Thank you.
What an interesting point of view! Leave it to you to find the right perspective and then it with us.
Thank you!
You are welcome Cheryl!
I like the concept of receiving a resolution as a gift. Who doesn’t like presents. Although, I have never pictured the item in the box as a key. I always think of it as “OOOO fun toy.”
Hey, fun toys are great too Jon!
A great reminder that everything we set out to do in life a only a matter of the perspective we choose to bring to it.
Perspective–you hit it right on, Jeri. I always try to bring a new perspective to things for myself and then, also for my readers when I write about it.
So honored to be a part of this post and believe in it with every fabric of my being. Thanks or writing this, Bethany.
No problem, Levi. I really enjoyed reading that comment–obviously more than you might have thought. For that matter, I have been enjoying reading your posts on your blog. I hope you keep it up
Bethany,
What a wonderful post. I am terrible at keeping resolutions and I have never really looked at it this way. Thank you for the wake up call.
Wow so bloody well said, I completely agree…………..
Love the inspirational spin that you put on something that most people just shrug off after the first week in January!
Thanks for continuing on with the optimistic, thought-provoking posts
I am so proud to have you as a blog buddy, supporter, and friend, Bethany!
This is a really cool way to think about it. Maybe I can even visualize “the gift” as the end goal of what I’ll receive when I continue my resolution… whether it’s a more in shape body for a physical resolution or a sense of satisfaction with a giving resolution. You’ve got me thinking… this is good stuff!