It’s a new year. I know you knew that. If we want things to turn out different, we have to quit doing the same old thing. I also know that that is a familiar sentiment. People make resolutions hoping they will become revolutionary.Here are some common ones:Resolved, that I will quit __________________________ (fill in your various addictions and self-medicating behaviours). An addiction is something you keep doing or using even though it causes you pain and loss in some way to do it or use it. A self-medicating behaviour is something you do to make bad feelings go away. Many people who are addicted find themselves on “automatic pilot,” doing or using before they can seemingly stop themselves. Self-medicating behaviours function in a similar way; people are doing them without understanding why. They are out of control. So, in the case of addiction, what sense is it to make a New Year’s resolution, when for the other 364.5 days in the year all you’ve demonstrated is the fact that you can’t say “yes” or “no” to yourself?Resolved, that I will be more thoughtful of others. Good luck (see last sentence in the previous paragraph).In pre-revolutionary America Jonathan Edwards created what has become a famous set of resolutions (resolutions 1-21 were written in one sitting in 1722, but others were added later in 1723). He said in part (as seen at “A Puritan’s Mind,” downloaded from www.apuritansmind.com/christianwalk/ResolutionsOfJonathanEdwards.htm):The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards (1722-1723)Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God..............65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26, and Aug.10 1723.66. Resolved, that I will endeavour always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23, and August 10, 1723.69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.Aug. 17, 1723If you were a solutions-focused therapist, you would come to a resolution such as the ones above, and you’d say to your client, “How can we build a path from here to there?” After a moment of puzzlement, you’d start putting together a plan, and you’d start working out your plan, keeping an eye on how it was going and adjusting it as you progressed. Also, you’d keep the other eye on your resolution, because it might lose its lustre, or morph into a different aspiration.It is helpful to have a goal. Goals orient and organise one’s energies. My colleagues also call tem figures of interest. Figures of interest put everything else into perspective. Since all of our alert life is a matter of perspective (I can only see the world from where I am sitting/standing), having figures of interest that are sharp and crisp, well-formed, actually enables us to live not only with more effectiveness, but also with more clarity, enthusiasm, passion, and enjoyment.So, it’s a new year, and I resolve to attend to my interests and curiosities, paying attention to them as carefully as I can. I resolve to give myself permission to pursue my figures of interest, wherever they may lead me, knowing that God will be there, the He loves me, and that his grace is sufficient for me.