The Spirited Negotiator - A New Year Many New Challenges and Few New Year Resolutions

In recent memory, 2022 is that new year which made a remarkably silent and low-key birth!?New Years have always seen such a celebration across the globe.?In the city where I stay, midnight sky gets lit up by fireworks accompanied by celebratory ovation, that was clearly missed this time around.?This cautious welcome from mankind if at all, is a commentary on the fatigue and thoughtfulness.?I hasten to add that there is no doomsday that awaits us; it is rather a new opportunity that waits to be exploited and a new self-discovery that beckons us.

Life is witnessing a challenging transition at multiple levels.?At a global level - a rapidly changing world order. ?Few decades ago, the donor nations were from the West and Japan was the lone outsider.?Global trade was conducted in the background and technology stood protected by this global order through coaxing, coercion, and lawsuits.??Rich nations and their corporations found it profitable to outsource and inadvertently created new economic superpowers and a behemoth to contend with.?Population growth seen as bad economics till not so long ago became good economics – immigrant diaspora of populous countries repatriated economic resources, technical skills, managerial talent, and other impetuses.?At a political level - economic, political, and other strife at conflict zones is displacing population from strife-torn areas to Western and other open economies.?Political ideology and commentary have changed rapidly, and leaders are struggling to control (leave alone captivate) rapidly changing demographics in many nations.?Social fabric is threatened like never – traditional thought is challenged, and liberalism is taking root in hitherto hierarchical societies.?Liberalism – new, loosely put together and revolutionary in approach is viewed as a catharsis and youth lapping it up. ?For the citizens, the manifestation can be seen - sizeable unvaccinated population despite vaccine stocks lying around, widening income and wealth disparity, immigrants picking up skilled jobs impacting local populace, popular cities witnessing crime and turning unsafe – overall - we have ask ourselves; while technology is making physical effort redundant and releasing humans from drudgery, are we moving to a better world in 2022?

Given these challenging times, what are some of the things that could keep us (as individuals and families) going and help navigate the stormy weather – here are some of the New Year resolutions for 2022:

• Become tough inside - these times are not for the chicken-hearted – ?it is good to go about our duties with no compromise – don’t be spooked or affected by failures or setbacks – one important tip to develop this state of mind is – start a spiritual practice – simple pranayama, prayer, devotional singing or meditation – it makes you more aware inside as events unfold outside – if you have a skill such as singing, instrumental, articulation, sport or scriptural knowledge - put it into practice for sharpening the inner culture and productively spending time
• Express friendship within family – did you observe that we often tend to be very cordial and friendly in office and neighborhood, but our stiff upper lip, nonchalance and artificiality is reserved for home; in my view, there cannot be a more lopsided living than this! ?Let’s reverse this now and sincerely try to express true love and friendship within family – it is an investment for lifetime that you’ll never regret – start with one quality such as – trust, truthfulness, openness, light-heartedness, sacrifice, mutual help, pleasing manners, forbearance and keep adding more into the year – build on virtues and make the home a paradise on earth
• Give back to the society – if we reflect deeply enough, we will realize the vital role our community, society and country plays in our own personal and professional growth – be it the school or college, the local libraries, the temples, churches or mosques, the neighborhood, and professional societies.?Make it a habit to give back to some or all of them – monetary or otherwise – not only does it give a great sense of gratification but, the ecosystem gains by this donation or goodwill
• ?Simple living and high thinking – I often tell myself that our pleasure has become in getting more and more and not worry about what happens to others – the great master Paramahansa Yogananda* advises us, “But isn’t it better to live simply – without so many luxuries and with less worries?” and especially for these challenging times he emphasized; live a simple life less focused on “unnecessary necessities” and more focused on high thinking such as that concerning societal progress, emancipation of the needy and harnessing healthy thoughts and lifestyle

* - https://yssofindia.org/spiritual/taking-simplicity-to-heart