Making New Year resolutions to enhance your personality

Making new resolutions to coincide with the ushering of a New Year have been an ancient and hallowed custom, which we still follow with unbounded enthusiasm.

Most of us tend to follow this practice with bated breath hoping in earnest, that it would have a qualitative change transforming our lives with a positive outlook.

Though as expected, some of us are bound to abandoned these resolutions one by one on flimsy grounds over the months, without a tinge of remorse thankfully there are others who heroically defy the onslaught of rough weather, in ascending to the summit, adroitly using their sharpened and well-cultivated tools of old sage's patience and incredible determination.

Undoubtedly they embody the innate qualities of home sapiens who have made astounding and monumental leaps in their endeavour to make our lives more fruitful and comfortable in the long run.

Some of us still find seemingly simple but undoubtedly very useful resolutions such as getting up early in the morning to resume the daily chores or studies somewhat difficult and even cumbersome to follow which itself indicates our inability or unpreparedness to face the numerous challenges of day to day life with a positive frame of mind.

On the contrary such challenges itself present a treasure-trove to an optimist allowing him full rein to harness his full potential to hitherto unimaginable level of dizzy heights utilizing his mental and physical faculties to a peak condition.

To such an awakened human-being the axiom "Noting succeeds like success" remains quite relevant, for such a person imbued with a positive frame of mind is capable of doing wonders such as being instrumental in making epoch making new discoveries in the field of science, technology etc which will not only enhance the parameters of their lives but also it will make them the proud recipients of the bountiful harvest of their labours.

Notwithstanding the prevalent tendency of discarding some of our time honoured customs such as upholding the truth and respecting the elders as something irrelevant with the advent of push-button civilization, in which pendulum we revolve in a frenzy seeking deliriously a mirage like alluring and instant success, it is heartening to observe that some of us steadfastly remain ardent proponents of our pristine values.

Hence making solemn resolutions such as always telling the truth fearlessly, without yielding to unjustifiable rules or regulations well knowing its probable consequences, still have not lost its vibrant cord of resonance echoing and reechoing an enigmatic message firmly embodied in our vestige of tradition.

On the lighter vain, abstinence from drinking intoxicants, which resolution is an all time favourite of many of us, which we make in unison each year though ironically without much conviction, after following the ritual of ushering the new year, indulging in a bout of merrymaking, to be followed by the partaking of the feast, undoubtedly bolstered by the euphoric feeling of bonhomie we find a respite as a tempting proposition, allowing us breathing space to regain our lost mental equilibrium.

Unlike other resolutions, the propensity of breaching this hard to abide resolution has a very high percentage so much so that the spouses of these incorrigibles live to regret their unyielding faith on their dotting husbands, resulting a degradation of a new kind, in which strong bonds of family trust are irrevocably strained which sometimes culminates with prophetic tragedy such as suicide or divorce.

However as we very well know that most of our dear spouses being used to be gentle and good natured throughout their cloistered lives, would not take our blemishes seriously enough to warrant such drastic action, provided their pressing needs are satiated with undiminished enthusiasm.

As a wise owl predicted two thousand years ago our beloved spouses resolutions such as finding a path of emancipation thus setting themselves free from our imposing bonds quite naturally bound to end entangled in a web of matrimony in which happy harmony they find depth and affirmation of their very existence providing them in turn not only sustenance but also a sole and mounting source of inspiration to be climaxed according to the recipe with sighs of ecstatic gratification.

It is true that there is a possibility of one getting the impression that useful resolutions which are very often made with religious zeal on the eve of ushering of a New Year, is simply meant to be breached in gay abundance, though they can be considered as an exception to the rule, warranting our attention.

After all the monumental achievements of mankind in the field of science, technology, arts etc. can be regarded as a fitting monument not only to his enduring spirit, withstanding perils of adversity but also to his resolve in adhering to his cherished resolutions, resulting tangible change which tantamounts to a quantum leap, thus making a positive role in achieving one's set-goals.

Undoubtedly such awe-inspired achievements should be hailed without any qualms which will go a long way in reaching the acme of success in their chosen field of studies. Therefore let us safeguard our democratic rights without inclined to any bias or prejudice furthering our pursuit of finding lasting and tangible results within a short span of time which period ironically would not be that short at all.

Ranjan Amarasinghe