Resolution

Resolution is the directing and impelling force in individual progress. Without it no substantial work can be accomplished. Not until a man brings resolution to bear upon his life does he consciously and rapidly develop, for a life without resolution is a life without aims, and a life without aims is a drifting and unstable thing.

Determination guides and drives personal progress. Without it, no substantial work can be accomplished. Only when a person applies determination to life can they grow consciously and rapidly. A life without determination is a life without goals, and a life without goals is directionless and unstable.

Resolution may of course be linked to downward tendencies, but it is more usually the companion of noble aims and lofty ideals, and I am dealing with it in this its highest use and application.

Of course, determination may be used for harmful purposes. But it is more often associated with noble goals and high ideals. I am discussing determination in its highest use.

When a man makes a resolution, it means that he is dissatisfied with his condition, and is commencing to take himself in hand with a view to producing a better piece of workmanship out of the mental materials of which his character and life are composed, and in so far as he is true to his resolution he will succeed in accomplishing his purpose.

When a man makes a resolution, it means he is dissatisfied with his condition. He is beginning to take charge of himself, aiming to reshape the mental materials that make up his character and life. To the extent that he remains true to his resolution, he will succeed in his purpose.

The vows of the saintly ones are holy resolutions directed toward some victory over self, and the beautiful achievements of holy men and the glorious conquests of the Divine Teachers were rendered possible and actual by the pursuit of unswerving resolution.

The vows of saintly people are sacred commitments to overcome some part of themselves. The beautiful achievements of holy men and the glorious victories of the Divine Teachers were made possible and brought to life through unwavering determination.

To arrive at the fixed determination to walk a higher path than heretofore, although it reveals the great difficulties which have to be surmounted, it yet makes possible the treading of that path, and illuminates its dark places with the golden halo of success.

A firm decision to follow a higher path than before reveals the great difficulties you must overcome. But it also makes that path possible to follow and lights its dark places with the golden glow of success.

The true resolution is the crisis of long thought, protracted struggle, or fervent but unsatisfied aspiration. It is no light thing, no whimsical impulse or vague desire, but a solemn and irrevocable determination not to rest nor cease from effort until the high purpose which is held in view is fully accomplished.

A true resolution is the turning point after long thought, prolonged struggle, or a passionate but unfulfilled longing. It is not a small matter, a passing impulse, or a vague desire. It is a solemn and final decision to keep striving until the high purpose in view is fully achieved.

Half-hearted and premature resolution is no resolution at all, and is shattered at the first difficulty.

A half-hearted or premature decision is no decision at all. It falls apart at the first difficulty.

A man should be slow to form a resolution. He should searchingly examine his position and take into consideration every circumstance and difficulty connected with his decision, and should be fully prepared to meet them. He should be sure that he completely understands the nature of his resolution, that his mind is finally made up, and that he is without fear and doubt in the matter. With the mind thus prepared, the resolution that is formed will not be departed form, and by the aid of it a man will, in due time, accomplish his strong purpose.

A man should not make a resolution quickly. He should carefully examine his situation and consider every circumstance and difficulty connected with his decision. He should be fully prepared to face them. He should be sure he completely understands his resolution, has made up his mind, and has no fear or doubt about it. With his mind prepared in this way, he will not abandon his resolution. With its help, he will eventually accomplish his firm purpose.

Hasty resolutions are futile.

Hasty decisions are useless.

The mind must be fortified to endure.

The mind must be strengthened to endure.

Immediately the resolution to walk a higher path is made, temptation and trial begin. Men have found that no sooner have they decided to lead a truer and nobler life than they have been overwhelmed with such a torrent of new temptations and difficulties as make their position almost unendurable; and many men, because of this, relinquish their resolution.

As soon as a person decides to follow a higher path, temptation and trials begin. Men have found that as soon as they decide to live a truer and nobler life, they are overwhelmed. A flood of new temptations and difficulties makes their situation almost unbearable. Because of this, many men abandon their resolve.

But these temptations and trials are a necessary part of the work of regeneration upon which the man has decided, and must be hailed as friends and met with courage if the resolution is to do its work. For what is the real nature of a resolution? Is it not the sudden checking of a particular stream of conduct, and the endeavour to open up an entirely new channel? Think of an engineer who decides to turn the course of a powerfully running stream or river in another direction. He must first cut his new channel, and must take every precaution to avoid failure in the carrying out of his undertaking. But when he comes to the all-important task of directing the stream into its new channel, then the flowing force, which for ages has steadily pursued its accustomed course, becomes refractory, and all the patience and care and skill of the engineer will be required for the successful completion of the work. It is even so with the man who determines to turn his course of conduct in another and higher direction. Having prepared his mind, which is the cutting of a new channel, he then proceeds to the work of re-directing his mental forces—which have hitherto flowed on uninterruptedly—into the new course. Immediately this is attempted, the arrested energy begins to assert itself in the form of powerful temptations and trials hitherto unknown and unencountered. And this is exactly as it should be; it is the law; and the same law that is in the water is in the mind. No man can improve upon the established law of things, but he can learn to understand the law instead of complaining, and wishing things were different. The man who understands all that is involved in the regeneration of his mind will "glory in tribulations," knowing that only by passing through them can he gain strength, obtain purity of heart, and arrive at peace. And as the engineer at last (perhaps after many mistakes and failures) succeeds in getting the stream to flow on peacefully in the broader and better channel, and the turbulence of the water is spent, and all dams can be removed, so the man of resolution at last succeeds in directing his thoughts and acts into the better and nobler way to which he aspires, and temptations and trials give place to steadfast strength and settled peace.

But these temptations and trials are a necessary part of the renewal the man has chosen. He must welcome them as friends and face them with courage if his resolution is to do its work. For what is a resolution? It is a sudden halt to a particular course of conduct and an effort to open an entirely new path. Think of an engineer who decides to divert a powerfully flowing stream or river. He must first cut a new channel and take every precaution to keep the project from failing. But then comes the crucial task of directing the stream into its new channel. The water has followed its familiar course steadily for ages, and now its flowing force resists the change. The engineer will need all his patience, care, and skill to complete the work. The same is true of a man who decides to turn his conduct in a different, higher direction. Preparing his mind is like cutting a new channel. He then begins to redirect his mental forces into the new course. Until now, those forces have flowed without interruption. As soon as he tries to redirect them, the blocked energy begins to assert itself. It takes the form of powerful temptations and trials he has never known or faced before. And this is exactly as it should be. It is the law, and the same law that governs water governs the mind. No man can improve on the established law of things. But instead of complaining and wishing things were different, he can learn to understand the law. The man who understands all that renewing his mind involves will "glory in tribulations." He knows that only by passing through them can he gain strength, obtain purity of heart, and reach peace. At last, perhaps after many mistakes and failures, the engineer succeeds in diverting the stream. It flows peacefully in the broader, better channel. The water is no longer turbulent, and all the dams can be removed. In the same way, the determined man finally succeeds in directing his thoughts and actions along the better, nobler path he seeks. Temptations and trials give way to steadfast strength and lasting peace.

He whose life is not in harmony with his conscience, and who is anxious to remedy his mind and conduct in a particular direction, let him first mature his purpose by earnest thought and self-examination, and having arrived at a final conclusion, let him frame his resolution, and having done so let him not swerve from it, let him remain true to his decision under all circumstances, and he cannot fail to achieve his good purpose; for the Great Law ever shields and protects him who, no matter how deep his sins, or how great and many his failures and mistakes, has, deep in his heart, resolved upon the finding of a better way, and every obstacle must at last give way before a matured and unshaken resolution.

If your life is not in harmony with your conscience, you may want to improve your thoughts and conduct in a particular way. First, develop your purpose through serious thought and self-examination. Once you have reached a final conclusion, make your resolution. Then do not turn aside from it. Stay true to your decision under all circumstances, and you cannot fail to achieve your good purpose. For the Great Law always shields and protects anyone who has resolved, deep in their heart, to find a better way. It does so no matter how deep their sins or how great and numerous their failures and mistakes. Every obstacle must eventually give way before a well-considered and unshaken resolution.