Embracing and pursuing a most worthy and achievable New Year’s resolution
by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay
01-01-26
If you are reading this, you made it to 2026: a new year!
It is customary for many at the beginning of each new year to think about positive changes one can make on this day forward. Like the cliche says, “This is the first day of the rest of your life.”
Today, I’m going to share my New Year’s Resolution, or better called a New Year’s anthem which is: the Pursuit of Peace.
Taking back the peace in your life by putting a solid end to rage fueled content that is dumped into water in each of our life’s aquarium’s which we swim in and draw oxygen from. Each day, there is someone or something that is waiting to red-glass you, dumping cortisol, the fight or flight stress hormone into your bloodstream, making it hard to sleep, relax, lose weight and enjoy living. It is dopamine’s evil brother.
Aside from sex, there is a huge economy that is built on keeping you torqued off. Why? Because it gets your attention and gets you buying stuff. Social media is filled with rage bait content and YouTube has tons of channels that show videos of the proverbial Karen’s causing chaos. (Sorry to people actually named Karen)
I confess that I have my own addiction to watching videos where people flip out and lose their cool. If you’re going to get screwed over, get it on video isn’t bad advice but like Cookie Crisp Cereal, I don’t have to make it my steady diet of watching this type of content.
Did you know that the English language has over 200 words describing some form of anger? From being peeved to being full on enraged, English has some word for it. Why? Because society from the Government, Media, Music, to headline news to social media is filled with it. Imagine if sex related and anger filled content were removed from social media, it would be gutted, we’d all be left with cute cat videos which wouldn’t be a bad thing!
So how does one live a more peaceful life? Start by actively studying peace and intentionally surround yourself with peaceful content and say no to rage bait content and music and media that is driven by anger.
For example, make it a practice to walk daily with the Prince of Peace, Christ Jesus.
“If you want to be peaceful. study peace,” Motivational speaker Jim Rohn said.
Learn how to breathe. Take a big breath in and out. Fill your lungs with fresh oxygen each morning and throughout the day,
A major life truth I found is this: What you surround yourself with affects you.
Deep clean your social media content: Start unsubscribing, unfollowing and unblocking from Facebook, Tik-Tok and Instagram channels that are built on rage and resentment. Stop sharing this content and start liking and subscribing to peaceful and uplifting content. Start following positive and encouraging content. Peace begins with you. Train your eyes to see the instigators, agitators and agent provocateurs in your life. Call them out and cut them out.
As for news, stop subscribing from new sources that lead with the bleed, and follow new sources that offer objective and well thought out and balanced reporting.
As for politics, stop letting the president, governor or some politician live in your head rent free.
Seek more dialogue and less debate.
If you feel you need to act, do so calmly and deliberately without the emotional anger. Fight the good fight but be at peace doing so,
As for the drama-mamas and anxiety filled people in your life. Set boundaries with people that push your buttons and draw you into their circuses of chaos and anger. Instead start changing your social circle and include more peaceful and loving people.
If you intentionally start doing these things, I have a sneaking suspicion your other goals will start becoming more attainable. You’ll find you’ll need less alcohol or comfort food.
Meet Mr. Glad in 2026
