resolutions (as distinct from goals and dreams)

If you know much about me, you may know that I'm not really into being goal-oriented. Maybe that's weird for a girl who has historically been a pretty high achiever, but I've just always thought it was a little overrated. This is emphatically not some belief that wandering around aimlessly is a good idea. Enter: resolutions.

I tend to think of goals as pass/fail. For a little sports analogy, either the ball goes into the net or it doesn't. There's no "kind of" in the net- it's all or nothing. Being competitive, I get my feelings hurt when goals don't "make it" even if there is progress. It can be deflating, in my opinion. Resolutions, however, are those things to which you are resolved- you have made your mind up to pursue them. I like that. No pass/fail, just progress.

That said, I think resolutions (and goals for that matter) need evaluation to distinguish them from dreams. Dreams are things you desire but cannot fully control. For example, to dream of having a stable marriage is good and healthy. Your resolution, however, can only be what YOU can decide to do. In case you don't remember, marriage is two-sided. One cannot make a marriage stable and happy single-handedly. Thus, a related resolution could be: I am resolved to show affection towards my spouse, to express forgiveness towards him/her quickly when appropriate, and to seek ways to serve him/her in our daily life.

Why do I care about distinguishing these? I think I just wanted to communicate the intentionality I have in the way I use words. So without further ado, some 2012 resolutions:

1. I am resolved to cultivate my affections for God more intentionally (as opposed to it being haphazard and sporadic, as is currently true).
2. I am resolved to be more intentional about how I manage our home- again, this currently feels a little haphazard. 
3. I am resolved to care less (and be less anxious) about temporal, earthly things. Likewise, I am resolved to take a broader, eternal worldview concerning life in general.

All I can handle is 3, I think. I am having a baby and stuff. Three is about all I can fit in my brain for the time being. We'll see how it goes once the baby is here- you may have to remind me of these resolutions!