It ’ s Resolution Time Again !
Iʼll wager most of you probably know that the New Year has a profound message to all . For those of you with a “ so what ” attitude about a New Year or its resolutions , Iʼll restart this article with an overview of our New
Larry Wonderling Yearʼs heritage . If you have any Babylonian ancestors , you may already be aware they were apparently the first group to acknowledge New Yearʼs resolutions about 4,000 years ago ! Those were promises to their gods and themselves with religious implications . Even the Roman Empireʼs Julius Caesar , in 46 BC declared January first the beginning of the New Year . He even offered sacrifices for their gods during the New Year with promises of good conduct during the year . As for early Christians , the New Year eventually represented contrition for prior mistakes with goals of doing better in the future . New Yearʼs promises worldwide , however , seem to have become more of a tradition than a religious imperative . Research further indicates that about 45 % of Americans continue making those New Yearʼs resolutions , while about 8 % are actually able to achieve their goals . Iʼve personally valued yearly resolutions for most of my adult life . Despite all weʼve learned since infancy , virtually all of our knowledge has flaws in our beliefladen behaviors , including those ingrained traditions . Thatʼs when some constructive introspection may help alter , or at least remind us that our maladaptive behaviors arenʼt impenetrable . Then those New Yearʼs resolutions may be of genuine personal value by encouraging us to reexamine ourselves in a more realistic , objective fashion . Many interesting influences in our lives unwittingly trigger flawed responses to seemingly conventional activities . e . g . “ What am I doing that stifles desirable relationships with women ; has my alcoholic habit contributed to my loss of contact with good friends ; why am I such a social flop at party get-togethers with strangers ?” New Yearʼs may be your resolution invitation ,
See Wonderling , page 14
10 January 2017 pccnews