New year targets

New year targets

January 2024

Set New Targets For  2024 

Resolutions give us direction as well as the deter mination to continue to persevere in the achieve ment of our goals, says Jamuna Rangachari.  

There is no better time to make new resolutions  than the new year. We may have many dreams  but they are realised only when we proceed step  by step in an organised manner. Otherwise,  we will lead an erratic life, giving importance  to unimportant things and neglecting those  that truly need our attention. I made many  resolutions when I was to become a parent  and adhered to all of them, barring a few.  Consequently, I was able to raise balanced and  healthy children. 

I wanted compassion to be ingrained in my  children, so I resolved to expose them to stories  of people who were the epitome of that virtue.  As a software professional, before beginning  a new project, I would insist on everyone  making resolutions, not just professionally  but personally too, as only a balanced team  can deliver good results. It so happened that  one team member delivered a baby. The whole  team ensured she ate healthy meals and made  her resolve to continue with the practice as one  of her resolutions. This further reinforced the  habit of making resolutions in all of us. 

Mr CP Rao, a reiki healer from Roorkee, says,  “Making New Year’s resolutions is a tradition  as old as time, emerging as a beacon of hope  and self-improvement. In this annual ritual,  people set ambitious goals, envisioning a better  version of themselves and a brighter future.  Whether it’s committing to a healthier lifestyle,  pursuing a long-held dream, or fostering  stronger connections with loved ones, the act  of making resolutions symbolises a collective  desire for positive change. 

However, amidst the excitement and optimism,  it is essential to approach these resolutions with  a sense of realism and persistence, recognising  that the journey of self-improvement is a  marathon and not a sprint. As we stand on  the precipice of a new year, let us embrace the  opportunity for growth and transformation,  with the determination to turn our aspirations  into tangible achievements.” 

Successful people do well because they make  resolutions in important areas of their lives  and ensure that they follow through. They give  importance to both professional and personal  lives. 

Let’s resolve to improve three key areas of  our lives in 2024: health, relationships, and  finances. 

Health  

Health is wealth. If this aspect is in fine fettle,  then other things can be taken care of much  more easily. 

Welcome 2024 with hope and a sense of determination to achieve your goals

Ani Bhatnagar says that resolutions give a direction to our lives 

Anil Bhatnagar, a motivational speaker  from Delhi, is clear that resolutions give  direction to our lives. Reading, repeating, and  reviewing these resolutions at regular intervals  programmes our unconscious mind to drive our  actions and behaviours towards achieving our  daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. 

Anil says, “Physical health has three  components: strength, suppleness, and  stamina. Ask yourself what you would need to  do to achieve all three and which part of the day  you need to earmark for each of these activities  to gradually move towards your goals. Resolve  to increase your stamina by walking instead of  going everywhere by car and climbing stairs  instead of always using elevators.” 

Dr Rupali Sehgal, a holistic ayurvedic doctor  from Mumbai, says, “I will focus on a holistic  approach in the coming year. I commit to  incorporating regular exercise, balanced  nutrition, and sufficient sleep into my routine.  I resolve to schedule annual check-ups with  healthcare professionals to monitor and address  any potential health concerns.” A health  professional herself, she does not take anything  in the area of health for granted. 

Padmamalini G Rao, an author and writer  from New Delhi, says, “One forgets that the  word ‘resolution,’ by its very definition, is not a  ‘will happen’ statement but rather a ‘definitely  happening’ one. It is a decision, not a wish.”  She takes a highly spiritual approach towards  her health. 

Rao proclaims, “I ‘decide’ to renovate this  temple that is my body, whose parts are the  physical, the heartfelt, and the spiritual. I  decide to embrace my disease, my weight,  and my mindset, and dedicate this machine  to the greater good, with complete belief that  to achieve this, I will become whatever I need  to be. I resolve to eat less and breathe more, to  balance the particle and wave of me. I choose  to move more, barefoot, to reach my optimum  frequencies while earthing myself, so that on  that threshold, whenever that is, what I leave  behind and take ahead will be remembered as  being clean and free. Lastly, in everything I do  for others, I also ‘decide’ to love myself, honour  myself, respect myself, trust myself that this  part of the whole is equal to and worthy of the  whole.” 

What a fabulous approach! 

Relationships 

According to a census, happy relationships  constitute the biggest factor in human well being and felicity. They form the bedrock of a  successful life. This new year, let’s take a new  look at our most important relationships and  resolve to make them stronger and better. 

Anil Bhatnagar says, “Identify important  relationships in your life. Develop strategies to  improve each of these. Commit time to interact  with each of these people and build a rapport  and emotional hold. Examine what you can do  for them and plan how and when you will do  it.” 

Dr Rupali says, “In relationships, in the new  year, I will prioritise quality time with my  loved ones. I will dedicate specific moments  each day or week for meaningful conversations  and shared activities. I will practise active  listening, empathy, and open communication  to strengthen my connections.” 

Dr Rupali Sehgal 26 LifePositive | JANUARY 2024

Padmamalini G Rao 

Padmamalini G Rao says, “As a lover of words,  every year, I inscribe this in my heart and  have seen a marked shift from one New Year  to the next in the efficacy of my resolutions  manifesting into truths. This year too, I resolve  to move into 2024 with my mentor, my family,  my nation, and my world firmly in my heart as  both my starting point as well as my destination.  First, I ‘decide’ to deepen my relationships,  move away from the ‘give and take’ to unifying  with joy, and align my shoulder with theirs to  solve issues and move ahead. This year, I resolve  to explore the fullness of my karma with each  person I am involved with so that when I am on  the threshold of entering my next existence, I  can say I have no regret and have left nothing  to carry forward.”  

Wise words! 

Finances 

All’s well that ends well. Good finances keep  things oiled and functioning smoothly. Being  prudent with your money goes a long way in  leading a stress-free and happy life. 

“We need to know there is nothing we own and all that we have is  given to us by the grace of the Supreme. Thinking of it as our own is  false pride. When we are able to realise the truth—tan, man, dhan,  sab tera (body, mind, wealth, everything belongs to God)—through a  spiritual process, which involves following the instructions of one’s  spiritual master and reading the scriptures, one comes to a state of  inner detachment with the world without relinquishing one’s duties  and responsibilities in life. Such a person is called a detached and  surrendered soul.” 

Anil says that as far as finance is concerned, he  believes that we need to resolve how much to  save every month, how much time and money  to donate, and how much to invest. All this  needs to be done in a sequence. 

Dr Rupali says that in 2024, she will create a  comprehensive budget that aligns with her  financial goals and will regularly review and  adjust her budget as needed. She will also  consider consulting a financial advisor to  optimise her investment strategy and build a  solid foundation for her long-term financial  well-being. 

These ideas can be very helpful for anyone  wanting to strategise financially. 

The bigger picture 

However, spirituality makes us aware of a  higher dimension to human existence. To not be  out of touch with reality while planning our life  goals. That, eventually, our goals need the grace  of the Divine to come to fruition no matter how  hard we work to make them come true. It pays  to remember that everything belongs to God  and will eventually go back to Him, whether  

it is our health, money, or relationships. Death  takes everything away; therefore, we must keep  the Divine at the centre of all our resolutions. 

Mr Ramdeo Choudhary, a seeker from  Vrindavan, says, “New Year inspires us to  measure the gap in reaching our set milestone  and accordingly plan some new resolutions  to fill the gap. Behind all these measures, the  objective is to be more happy, more resourceful,  and more recognised in society and, in this  way, feel more distinct from others. In short,  everyone is engaged to add more and more  physical comfort, riches, and other worldly  acquisitions.” 

Ramdeo adds this by way of a reminder: “We  need to know there is nothing we own and  all that we have is given to us by the grace  of the Supreme. Thinking of it as our own is  false pride. When we are able to realise the  truth—tan, man, dhan, sab tera (body, mind,  wealth, everything belongs to God)—through  a spiritual process, which involves following  the instructions of one’s spiritual master and  reading the scriptures, one comes to a state  of inner detachment with the world without relinquishing one’s duties and responsibilities  in life. Such a person is called a detached  and surrendered soul.” Finally, Ramdeo asks  us to plan for an awakening in the new year  through devotional means without disturbing  any of our personal and professional duties  towards worldly life. Coming to me, I have  always kept family time and never allowed  anything to interfere with it. I have also kept  a minimum amount of savings and connect  with the Supreme every day through chanting  and praying, no matter how busy I may be.  This is something I have tried to impart to my  children also. 

Step-by-step progress 

Making resolutions despite uncertainty Even though everything is temporary,  resolutions are required. We take a fresh look  at our life when one more year has passed.  Even spiritual greats make resolutions.  While life is uncertain, we do need to have  a clear direction and modify the resolutions  as and when required. Making resolutions  always gives us direction and, being spiritual  makes us stronger, enabling us to make better  resolutions.  

Life keeps changing; hence, resolutions too  need to be revised, for them to stay doable.  

Making resolutions that are difficult to achieve can make us give up too easily. Let us start with a  step-by-step process.  

• Start a gratitude journal noting all the things we need to be thankful for. This changes our focus  in life. 

• Practise at least a few minutes of meditation every day to connect within. 

• Write down all your success stories, even minor ones. This will make you happy and consistent  about achieving your goals. In other words, become your own fan. 

• Read more motivational stories and make a note of them every month. 

• Learn to say no to things that can impede your journey to the realisation of your goal. For instance,  be firm in your resolve to abstain from sugary treats if you are trying to lose weight. • Set a time frame for the achievement of your target. 

• Reconsider the resolutions every month and revise them as and when required. • Keep aside time for enjoyment so that you do not get depressed by all the regulations, which may  result in your giving up too soon. 

Jamuna Rangachari, the former assistant editor of Life Positive, has authored  two books for children, and compiled and interpreted Teaching Stories-I and II  for Life Positive. Write to her at jamunarangachari@gmail.com.