Skip to main content

New Year

In the Cosmic Calendar our home, planet Earth, is adding another year to the 13.8 billion-year history. This emphasizes the briefness of our individual lives and human history within the vastness of cosmic time. New Year symbolizes a small but significant milestone in the ongoing evolution of the universe. It represents the continuation of life's journey on our planet as it continues to spin around the Sun.

New Year coincides with the Northern Hemisphere's the shortest day of the year. So this event marks the gradual return of sunlight and longer days, symbolizing renewal and rebirth. Different cultures celebrate their new year at different times. But as a universally accepted calendar, New Year's day on the Gregorian Calendar is celebrated by all cultures. So New Year's Day can be considered as a celebration of the humanity on Earth.

New Year's day is a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead. They can be big or small, personal or professional, but they should all be something that you're excited about and committed to achieving. Here are some popular New Year's resolutions:

  • Health and fitness: Getting healthy and fit can improve your energy levels, mood, and overall well-being. Some specific goals you could set include eating healthier, exercising more regularly, or getting enough sleep.
  • Personal growth: It can be anything from learning a new skill to overcoming a fear. If you're not sure where to start, think about what you've always wanted to do but never had the time or courage to try.
  • Financial goals: Getting your finances in order can give you peace of mind and set you up for success in the future. Some common financial goals include saving more money, paying off debt, or investing for retirement.
  • Relationships: Spend more time with loved ones, make new friends, or improve your communication skills.
  • Career: Get a promotion, start your own business, or make a career change.
The success rate of New Year's resolutions is notoriously low. Studies suggest that Only 8% to 12% of Americans successfully keep their New Year's resolutions: A 2007 study by the University of Scranton found that just 8% of people adhered to their resolutions after six months. A 2016 study by the University of Bristol put the figure at 12%.

Reasons for low success rates is setting overly ambitious or vague goals. Without a clear plan and supportive environment sticking to resolutions can be challenging. Breaking established habits and relying solely on willpower can be difficult. It is possible to increase success rate by:

  • Set SMART(Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals
  • Break down your goals into smaller steps and create a timeline.
  • Monitor your progress and celebrate achievements.
  • Don't be discouraged by setbacks, focus on progress.
Let us celebrate the vibrant threads of culture, language and belief that weave us together. We are united by a shared yearning for understanding and connection. Let us not be bystanders in the unfolding drama of life. Let us be the artists, the poets, the architects of a brighter tomorrow. Let us write stories of courage, paint landscapes of compassion, and build bridges of understanding across divides. May the whispers of the new year carry the promise of healing, the rhythm of innovation, and the symphony of shared humanity.

Happy New Year!

Comments

Popular Posts

Rules Of Power

The rules of power refer to a set of strategic principles designed to help individuals gain, maintain, and defend influence in social, professional, and organizational settings. In a world where power dynamics shape everything, understanding the rules of influence is essential. Robert Greene’s book titled ‘The 48 Laws of Power’ is a comprehensive guide to understanding and mastering power dynamics in life, business, and relationships. Greene presents power not as a moral virtue but as a neutral force. You can harness it, ignore it, or pretend it doesn’t exist while others use it against you. The laws cover a wide range of strategies, from how to interact with superiors and peers to how to manipulate situations and people to your advantage. The book emphasizes that power is not just about force or authority, but about perception, influence, and the ability to control situations and relationships. The laws are not meant to be followed blindly, but rather as tools for understanding th...

Human Judgement

Human judgment is the cognitive process by which individuals evaluate situations, weigh evidence, make decisions, and form beliefs or opinions. It is essential for daily life and critical thinking. Human judgment is shaped by a blend of psychological components, including cognitive processes, emotions, biases, heuristics, and social influences. These elements interact to determine how people gather, interpret, and act upon information in both routine and complex situations. It emerges from a combination of logic, emotion, bias, intuition, learned experience, and social context, making it powerful yet inherently imperfect. Judgment relies on information processing in the brain.Mental shortcuts known as cognitive biases can skew perception and lead to systematic errors. Emotions like anxiety, fear, excitement, or stress can strongly influence decisions. Mental shortcuts simplify decision-making in complex situations. It can lead to misjudgments, such as overestimating the likelihood o...

Wisdom of Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy of life developed by Zeno of Citium in the early 3rd century BC. It is a system of thought that teaches that the only things that are truly good are virtue and vice. So we should not be attached to external things like wealth, health, or pleasure, as they are outside of our control and can therefore be taken away from us at any time. Instead, we should focus on developing our own character and living in accordance with reason. The four cardinal virtues of Stoicism are: Wisdom : This is the virtue of using reason and logic to make good decisions. Wisdom helps us to understand the world around us and to live in accordance with nature. Courage : This is the virtue of facing our fears and doing what is right, even when it is difficult. Courage helps us to overcome challenges and to live a meaningful life. Justice : This is the virtue of treating others fairly and with respect. Justice helps us to build strong relationships and to create a just society. Temper...

Three Poisons

Zen Buddhism identifies three poisons as the root causes of suffering. Greed : An intense desire for things, experiences, or people. Greed leads to a constant state of wanting rather than appreciating what one already has. This creates a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction, as no amount of acquisition can truly fulfill the emptiness created by greed. It can blind us to the true value of things. We may become fixated on acquiring possessions or achieving external validation, neglecting the importance of inner qualities and genuine connections. This distorted perception can lead to poor decision-making and harmful actions. Greed often manifests in harmful ways, such as exploitation, manipulation, and even violence. As individuals and societies become consumed by greed, suffering increases for both the pursuer and the pursued. When consumed by greed, we prioritize our own desires over the needs of others. This can lead to a sense of isolation and loneliness. Hatred : Anger or disli...

Addiction

Addiction is a complex condition characterized by compulsive engagement in rewarding behaviors despite negative consequences. It can involve substances like drugs and alcohol, or activities like gambling and gaming. Here are some key aspects of addiction: Compulsive behavior : A strong urge to engage in the addictive behavior, even if they know it will cause harm. Loss of control : Struggle to control the frequency or duration of the behavior, and may find it difficult to quit even if they want to. Cravings : Intense cravings for the substance or activity, which can be difficult to resist. Tolerance : Over time, need to increase the amount of the substance or the intensity of the activity to achieve the same desired effect (tolerance). Withdrawal : Stop engaging in the behavior causes withdrawal symptoms, which can be physical or psychological. Negative consequences : Negative impact on many aspects of a person's life, including their physical and mental health, relationship...

Healthy Life

A healthy life is a holistic approach to well-being that includes physical, mental, and emotional health.  Living a healthy life is a journey, not a destination. It is about making conscious choices that promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Making gradual changes to your lifestyle can lead to significant improvements in your overall health. Healthy habits are the building blocks of a fulfilling life. They contribute to physical, mental, and emotional well-being by eliminating unhealthy lifestyle choices. Lifestyle diseases are non-communicable diseases that are largely caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices. These diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide and are a major public health concern.   Common Lifestyle Diseases Heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure are some of the most common cardiovascular diseases. Type 2 diabetes is strongly linked to lifestyle factors like diet and physical inactivity. Certain types of cancer, such as lung, ...

Behavioral Economics

Behavioral economics is a field of study that combines psychology and economics to understand how people make decisions in the real world. Traditional economics assumes that people are rational actors who always make decisions in their own best interest. Behavioral economics recognizes that people are often influenced by a variety of factors, such as emotions, biases, and social norms. So people may make decisions that are not necessarily optimal from an economic standpoint. For example, people may be more likely to buy a product if it is on sale, even if the discount is small. This is because people are more sensitive to losses than gains, a phenomenon known as loss aversion. People may be more likely to trust a product that is endorsed by a celebrity, even if there is no evidence that the product is actually better than its competitors. This is because people are susceptible to social influence. Behavioral economics has a wide range of applications, from business to government p...

Nudge

A nudge is a gentle push or touch, often used to get someone's attention. Nudges are different from rules or regulations. They don't force people to do anything, but they can make certain choices seem more appealing or easier to make. A nudge in behavioral science is a subtle intervention that influences people's decision-making without limiting their choices or using strong incentives. Nudges are based on insights from behavioral economics and psychology, which show that people don't always make rational choices. For example, many grocery stores place unhealthy snacks and sugary drinks near the checkout counter because they know shoppers are more likely to make impulse purchases when they are waiting in line. A behavioral nudge to counter this strategy would be to place healthier options, like fruits and vegetables. Nudge theory is a concept within behavioral economics that proposes adaptive designs of the decision environment (also known as choice architecture) to...

Self-awareness

Self-awareness is the ability to understand your own thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and motivations. It is like looking at yourself in a mirror, but instead of seeing your physical appearance, you are seeing your inner world.   Some key aspects of self-awareness: Understanding your emotions : Recognizing and understanding your feelings, both positive and negative.   Knowing your values : Understanding what is important to you and what drives your actions.   Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses : Being aware of your abilities and areas where you can improve.   Understanding your behavior : Understanding why you act the way you do and how your actions affect others.   The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual guide that encourages readers to live fully in the present moment. It emphasizes that suffering arises from dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, rather than being present. Tolle introduces the concept of the "inner observer", a stat...

Halo Effect

The halo effect is a cognitive bias where an initial positive impression of a person, company, brand, or product in one area influences your opinion or feelings in another area. It is like a halo that surrounds a positive attribute, making you perceive other qualities in a more favorable light.   Cognitive biases are systematic errors in thinking that can affect our perception, judgment, and decision-making. They are mental shortcuts that our brains take to simplify information processing, but they can sometimes lead to inaccurate or irrational conclusions. Examples of the Halo Effect: Physical attractiveness : Attractive people are often perceived as smarter, more competent, and more trustworthy.   Brand reputation : A well-known brand might be perceived as producing higher-quality products or offering better customer service. Celebrity endorsements : Celebrities can influence consumer choices based on their perceived positive qualities.   First impressions : A strong first ...