Why do we make a New Year resolution? To set a goal. Why do we set a goal? To change the current state we are in. And why do we want to change whatever predicament we are in? Because we are not happy with it. There, the answer is simple, yet profound.

Regardless of whatever resolution we make, our goal is to be happy. However, for some of us, it takes a lifetime or may be even more, to realize that the true happiness we are seeking can be derived only in loving the Supreme Lord selflessly, like a fruit seller loved baby Shree Krishna (Bhakti Ras column.) And to elevate ourselves to attain that unlimited happiness and joy, we need to make Him our ultimate goal (Inspiration for Living column) and learn to give, "for it is in giving that we receive" (Bal-Mukund.) 
 

This month, we share a few thoughts on
setting goals that uplift us.

As Bal Krishna grew into a toddler, stories of his divine leelas spread far and wide and everyone wanted to have His darshan. A lady fruit seller heard the village people recount their experiences of how they could not get Krishna's image out of their mind after having seen Him, even if only one time. The fruit seller's desire to meet Krishna became very intense and she made up her mind to go to Vrindavan. She packed a basketful of sweet and juicy fruits and started her journey daydreaming about Krishna's divine darshan.

When the fruit seller entered Vrindavan, she started calling out, "Juicy fruits for sale! Who wants mangoes, bananas and sweet guavas?" As she got close to Krishna's home, she shouted out even louder in the hope of attracting Krishna's attention. However, her mind was so engrossed in Krishna that instead of naming the fruits she was selling, she started saying, "Govind, Damodar, Madhaveti!" She kept calling out to Krishna for a couple of days but did not have His darshan. By the third day, her desperation had increased and she longed to see Krishna so much that she made up her mind that she would not leave until she had His darshan.

Then finally on the third day, when she called out, "Govind, Damodar," Lord Krishna, who was sitting on his mother's lap and playing with her, jumped off her lap and ran outside. He knew that the fruit seller would want something in exchange for the fruits. So He grabbed a handful of some grains in both hands and ran toward the fruit seller. While running, most of the grains fell out of His hands and by the time He got to the fruit seller, there were hardly any left in His hands. He gave the grains to the lady and told her to give him the fruits in exchange. 

After some time she got up to go home and when she lifted her basket, it felt much heavier even though it was empty. She peeked into the basket and to her amazement, she saw that it was filled with jewels. She started crying once again while visualizing Krishna sitting in her lap calling her "mother" as she experienced the bliss of divine love. All the jewels in the basket meant nothing when compared to the grace of God.  

Like the fruit seller, if sincere devotees want nothing more than to see and make contact with the Lord, Krishna does appear and bestow His grace.  As Swami Mukundananda suggests, we must first prepare the vessel by engaging in Sadhan bhakti to become worthy of receiving the grace of God.  Therefore, let us resolve to purify our mind, body and soul by following some basic principles designed to improve lives.  

An Ultimate Resolution We Need to Make  

Jagat te man ko hata kar, laga Hari mem pyare

Dear one! Detach the mind from the world and attach it to God.

(Sadhana Bhakti Tatva - 23 ) 

When we make Him as our goal, all other goals fall into place.

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed 

This is a story of three very good friends who lived in a jungle and had sworn to love and protect each other. These friends, a deer, crow and a mouse, were very different from each other but bound by a commitment to friendship. They did a lot of things together including playing, searching for food, eating their meals, and taking turns sleeping at night to look out for and protect each other. Their friendship had become legendary.

A turtle, who wanted to have some friends, approached them and asked if he could join their group. He said that he was afraid of being alone in the jungle because of the hunters. The turtle expressed his commitment to the friendship. The three friends agreed to let the turtle join their group and told him about the importance of helping each other should any of them be hurt by the hunter or other predators.

One day when the four friends were strolling through the jungle, they saw a hunter and started to execute their escape plan. The deer sprinted as fast as he could while the crow flew high into the trees and the mouse darted into a hole. The hunter felt sorry to see the deer escape but saw the turtle crawl toward the bushes. The turtle's movements were slow and he got caught into the hunter's net.

When the hunter was leaving the jungle, the turtle's three friends came out of their hiding place and thought about a plan to save their friend. So as per their plan, the crow flew high into the sky, saw the hunter walk by the river bank, and cawed loudly to alert the deer. On cue, the deer quickly but quietly loped ahead and lay down on the hunter's path as if dead. When the hunter approached the path and saw the deer lying on the ground and was so happy that he put the turtle down and ran toward the deer. During this time the mouse nibbled through the net and set the turtle free. The turtle then hurriedly crawled away into the river water. As the hunter got closer to the deer, suddenly the deer sprang up to his feet and darted away in the jungle. Before the hunter could figure out anything, the deer and the turtle had both disappeared into their hiding places, leaving behind the nibbled net. The four animals proved that friends in need are friends indeed.

The hunter was certain that this turn of events occurred because God was protecting both animals. He knew that today was not his day so he left the jungle. The four friends celebrated their victory, their commitment to each other's safety, and lived happily ever after.  

Do you value true friendship? If yes, make a resolution to always help a friend in need without expecting anything in return. Like the fruit seller and the four friends whose stories you read above, make a resolve to try your best to do good things for others and God will protect you forever.

My New Year Resolution  

 The start of each New Year brings a lot of hope and opportunity to do things to make a difference in our lives and of those around us. We aspire to inculcate good habits to be more productive at work and more effectual at home and in the society. As each of us thinks about various ways to make 2015 a more significant year, let us reflect on what it means to make a difference.

Making a difference in our own and someone else's life is not rocket science; it is about reflecting on what part of our life we want to change to be a better person or how we want others to remember us. Can we make resolutions that will benefit us and others around us?

Resolutions should be practical and doable, otherwise they will not last beyond the first week of a New Year. One way to think about resolutions is create one for each aspect of life that matters to us, i.e., the home and family, work, society, and self. What do we want to change?

Here are some examples and practical strategies for keeping our resolutions.

We really want to hear from you!