Show I Resolutions MANY and various are the expressions heard near the close of each year bearing bearing bearing bear bear- ing upon the good resolutions formed and to be formed which are to be carried carried carried car car- ried in into to effect during the succeeding year Let us consider briefly why such resolutions are formed what the effect upon the individual is and then venture an humble opinion as to the good or or- evil effects attending such a method for effecting desired ends It may be well to begin with what we consider a resolution to be that is mentally considered A resolution as near as my be is a desire formulated into a statement made to self and existing as a mentally formed tie between between between be be- tween self and the desirable end to be attained It may have a mental exist existence existence ence only it may be expressed orally or it may be committed to writing In any case the mental action is the same If a person conscientiously bind himself himself himself him him- self mentally orally or graphically to accomplish a chosen end the mind suffers a defeat and weakening weakening weakening weaken weaken- ing if that end be not accomplished It may however be contended that if the fulfilling of the condi conditions of the resolution resolution resolution tion be accomplished that the victory victory victory vic vic- tory will encourage and consequently strengthen the mind Strength may thus be acquired but I believe it is not of the kind to be desired Be that as asit asit asit it may let us proceed with the question In the forming of resolutions there is isa a dual action of the mind in which there is a conscious recognition of only a part of that action For example a aman aman aman man addicted to o the use of some alcoholic alcoholic alcoholic alco alco- holic or narcotic stimulant resolves say during December that he will leave off the use thereof on January 1st When the resolution is formed the person must feel that he has the strength requisite for the accomplishment accomplish accomplish- ment of the chosen end though to the close observer it would seem that not even did th this s exist But say that it perhaps may why does he not leave off the habit as soon as he is convinced that he should do so H Here ere is the point where the rub comes It seems clear that there is a weakness weakness perhaps perhaps best expressed in antithetical terms terms terms-as as asa a conscious unconscious recognition of ofa a weakness It is unconscious in the sense that he does not analyze hims himself lf and find out why he has this desire or why he wishes to form a resolution to counteract it In this conscious unconscious unconscious unconscious recognition the victim in his weakness flies to the asylum of most weaklings that of procrastination Instead Instead Instead In In- stead of the resolutions resolution's being a support support support sup sup- port it is a parasite gnawing a at the vital core of what might be otherwise good From the time the resolution is formed until its execution begins it stands a witness to the gratification of an abnormal appetite the satisfaction of which it has not power to prevent There is a mental deterioration an anxious fear that the appetite may be stronger than the resolution Still worse is the man who deceives hims himself lf by believing he has so much what we may call potential resolution The idea is contained in the old remark can can take it or leave it alone But Buthe Buthe Buthe he does not leave it alone and his conditio condition condition con con- is probably more lamentable than the man who recognizes recognizes recognizes that he is weak and that his whole power must be concentrated upon destroying the menacing affliction The effect upon the individual who is in the habit of forming these procrastinating procrastinating procrastinating resolutions has been partly shown in the preceding paragraph Yet there are other effects that may be plainly traced if one will take the trouble to observe closel closely one of those unfortunates who relies on his power to form good resolutions to carry him safely over the many pitfalls pitfalls' that stand threatening the development of strong and permanent characters He who forms resolutions usually relies upon that as aR stimulant to aid him in his moments of trial forgetting that in such trials himself and him only can he call to his assistance Still there is another effect to be noted The character of man is one of changing changing changing chang chang- ing permanence There is a permanent element and one constantly growing evolving Who knows exactly what his desires or tendencies will be a year hence Tie yourself to some particular pursuit say for a year let some other line of action be presented in which are clearly seen advantages for mental and moral growth which could not be seen when the ties were formed and the dissatisfaction for thus binding ones one's self may be felt From this o omay one may draw an inference of how effectually effectually effectually these procrastinating resolutions narrow the otherwise unbounded scope for development From what has been said it will be no surprise when we say that forming resolutions instead of indicating a strength and progressive tendency indicates a weak and retrogressive retrogressive retrogressive retro retro- one Leave the self perfectly free to grasp each opportunity profit by each experience and leave the way clear for any progressive changes that may be effected It t may be objected that the forming of good resolutions has been and is one of the best means by which people ac accomplish good purposes There have no doubt been many good things accomplished accomplished ac ac- by such a method of procedure ure but it is one of those cases in which the method used is a good one until a better is found If we must resolve make the best of it but never link procrastination with it Still further he who will mentally analyze himself will if unbiased readily come cometo cometo cometo to the conclusion that he who resolves deceives himself without knowing it In other words he is corking a bottle of moonshine or chasing an ignis fatus L. L N. N Moffat |