Truths You Can Use

Truths You Can Use

How To Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

posted by Evan Moffic

change the world and self

Most evidence suggests that New Years’ resolutions remain just that: resolutions rather than accomplishments. Part of the reason, I think, is that we aim too high. We ask ourselves to do more than is possible.

We are like the man who has never worked out, but decides he need to start running ten miles a day.

A Righteous Man’s Experience

To counter this tendency, I think we can take some inspiration from a favorite Jewish anecdote. It is attributed to a nineteenth century Rabbi named Israel Salentar, who introduced the study of modern ethics into the curriculum of Jewish schools across Eastern Europe.

“When I was young,” he said, “I wanted to change the world. I tried, but the world did not change. So I tried to change my town, but my town did not change. Then I turned to my family, but my family did not change. Then I realized: in order to change the world, first I must change myself: and I am still trying.” So are we all.

By Evan Moffic,

GET YOUR FREE EBOOK: HOW TO FORGIVE EVEN WHEN IT HURTS.

A Happy, Healthy and Sweet New Year to all my readers and friends!

 

 



You Might Also Like...
Previous Posts

Can God Help Us Focus?
We live in a world full of distractions. Sometimes it feels hard to work with focus for any significant amount of time. My brain wonders, twitter beckons, and I suddenly feel hungry for my fifth snack over the last 3 hours.  My friend and teacher Michael Hyatt recently gave some superb tips

posted 9:17:14pm Jun. 12, 2013 | read full post »

Who Else is Afraid of Public Speaking?
Some people would rather die than give a speech in public. I find this fact difficult to understand, yet numerous surveys attest to it. Since I speak for a living, I thought I had grown immune to the fear. Yesterday, however, it was palpable, as I presented a two-minute summary of my book to a gr

posted 8:21:07pm Jun. 04, 2013 | read full post »

Should You Feel Guilty for White Lies?
You are visiting with a friend. She has just returned from a trip abroad, and she brings down a new dress she purchased while traveling. You immediately notice that the color does not suit her. It is also too big and poorly designed. You simply find it terribly ugly. And then she tells you

posted 9:55:08pm May. 29, 2013 | read full post »

Who Do You Remember on Memorial Day?
Who do you remember on Memorial Day? Is it a friend or a relative? A grandparent or child? The day honors the memory of all who have died in service of our country. Yet, we each old precious individual memories. Who we remember tells us a lot about ourselves. The person I think about every year i

posted 6:42:32pm May. 25, 2013 | read full post »

The 7 Habits of Stress-Free People
Do you know how to handle stress? We all face it. And we know it can hurt us. Yet, we struggle with how to handle it. A recent study found only 23 percent of people feel they are doing “an excellent or very good job at managing or reducing stress.” Now picture some relaxed people you know. How

posted 3:08:38pm May. 23, 2013 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments Post the First Comment »
post a comment

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.





Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.