I’ve heard it said that if you truly intend to keep a resolution, you need to tell someone else what you’ve resolved to do. That makes sense, and of course in my case I’ve told a world of website visitors my plans. Talk about accountability!
The support that this accountability has provided me is invaluable in my attempt to listen well and pay attention. It forces me, at least once a week, to assess my progress and ponder my successes and my failures. This is particularly important for my goal, because success and failure are hard to measure. I do feel progress but it’s not easy to quantify: Did I listen more often this week? Did I listen more attentively? I think so, but it certainly isn’t something I could graph.
I must confess that until this week I sort of avoided the accountability factor. Yes, I had told Guideposts.org readers my resolution but had conveniently avoided telling anyone who might be able to hold me to it! Neither my husband, my children, my family, my co-workers nor my friends had been invited to track my progress. I’m not sure of the reason for my reluctance but I think it was two-fold: I didn’t want to admit that I have the problem and I am embarrassed that I do.
However, this week I have let a few of those closest to me in on my plans. At one point, my husband was telling me something and I was, well…I’m not sure what I was doing but I was not listening. I tuned in near the end and asked him what he’d said. He good-naturedly chuckled and said it wasn’t important. I immediately felt what has now become a familiar pang…someone I care about is talking to me and I’m not listening! I asked that he please repeat himself adding, “I wasn’t listening. I’m not a very good listener and I am trying to fix that. As a matter of fact, it’s my resolution.” Telling Ken was a good choice, because I now have some non-judgmental, on-location help that can help keep me on track.
I should know better than to think I have to do this by myself; God always sends help and this year he’s sent it both live and virtually. Thanks for your prayers!
Who did you share your resolution with? Comment below!
—Robin Carlo
