Notes from the Ghanaman File: Welcome to 2017: What have you resolved to do?

I don’t know whether you ‘Crossed Over’, ‘Rolled Over’, ‘Danced Over’ or even  ‘Crawled Over. But welcome to 2017! I have already made a few mistakes with my dates since we entered the new year. I have written 2016 instead of 2017 a few times in the past few days and I can bet I am not alone. Indeed, we must be grateful for this new year, 2017. Like in every year, there are those who say 2016 was challenging in several ways but others too count that year as a blessed one. In all, God was good for seeing us through. I can imagine you at your 31st night church service, in the quiet of your home or even at the pub, resolving or promising to quit one bad habit or two and to start doing certain things right from this new year. You must have captured all in what we call a New Year Resolution. A New Year’s resolution is a tradition in which a person makes a promise to himself/herself to do an act of self-improvement from the first day of the new year. These improvements can be learning a new language, being physically fit or doing something nice, such as being more friendly to neighbours, work colleagues and relations. These New Year Resolutions have become an annual ritual to several people across the world. There are some of us who have repeated some resolutions for over a decade but have failed to go by them. Most of the resolutions have to do with negative lifestyles which some individuals want to quit. Here are the top ten commonly broken New Year’s resolutions:

• Lose Weight
• Quit Smoking
• Learn Something New
• Time Management
• Eat Healthier or improve the Diet
• Spend More Time with Family
• Save Money or Get Out of Debt
• Lying
• Stealing
• Quit Alcohol

Many of us strive to improve ourselves in this way with each new year, but unfortunately very few actually follow through with each year’s resolutions. A study has shown that 1 in 3 people abandon their resolutions by the end of January, and 73% give up before achieving their goal. I will start by questioning the commitment of those who make such resolutions because, Where there is a will, there is a way. One expert says, It is actually the personality defects, like laziness, impulsiveness, greed, selfishness, pride, anger, etc, which are the root cause of the problem. They are the culprit for not achieving resolutions, and obstructing our process of self-improvement. In reality the self-improvement automatically comes when these personality defects are removed and qualities are instilled in their place! I listened to a panel member on a discussion programme who said, the word ‘Resolution’ is not a plan which can be implemented unlike an action word like ‘Intention’ which she sees as an active verb and seems attainable. I couldn’t agree more with her. What we intend to achieve within the year must be put down as our plan(s) for the year and captured as SMART as possible. The point is that most of what we call resolutions may not be captured as specific as possible. They may not be measurable, attainable or realistic. The other challenge may be that, they are not be time bound as they are mostly made for the whole of the year without action plans along the way to be achieved. One reason why people fail in achieving their resolutions is because, some just consign whatever they put down to their drawers without reminding themselves about them until the year is about to close. But any efforts to implement our plans must lead to constantly reminding ourselves and not losing focus. I will not rule out the spiritual influence. Apostle Paul said; For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do (Rom 7:19). I want you to succeed in implementing your resolutions this year so I will be praying with you. Remember me too. Afehyiapa! By Kojo Ackaah-Kwarteng, Head of Station,Onua 95.1 ]]>