resolution, revulsion or revolution

it's another new year!  whilst i'm generally underwhelmed by the digital transition festivities as the annum counter clocks another number, i don't think i've yet made it to Miserable Old Man status, and any excuse to enjoy the company of friends and family is a good one.  if only we didn't need excuses!

similarly, i've not been big on new year's resolutions although i think that any reason to review and correct current habits should be welcomed too.  (i've certainly been known to select appropriate victims for subjugation during the lent period.)

so there i was, contemplating the infamous new year's resolution, when it occurred to me that the reason that resolutions so frequently fail - whatever time of year they're made - is that too often they're the result of an intellectual intent.. ..and intellectual intent simply isn't powerful enough to change behaviour.

behaviour is governed from deeper inside than the conscious mind! 

of course, i'm not the first to say it: 

1. numerous philosophers and psychologists have noted for a loooong time.  E.g. Carl Jung in Factors Determining Human Behavior is quoted saying: "The separation of psychology from the premises of biology is purely artificial, because the human psyche lives in indissoluble union with the body."
2. here's a contemporary author who agrees, claiming that apple owes a lot of its success to marketing to that deeper part of a person (the "why" at the centre of the "golden circle"): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qp0HIF3SfI4. 

3. another famous teacher allegedly stated, "whatever is in your heart determines what you say."

so anyway, it occurred to me that resolutions fail because they simply lack strength of conviction.  sorry - nothing new and surprising to learn here!  but perhaps it's a useful reminder nonetheless?

my advice (to myself, as well as anyone else interested to consider it) is that we need to be moved by REVULSION or inspired to REVOLUTION if we are to successfully change our behaviour. 

…and both of these take contemplation and a change (or at least a reawakening) of perspective!