TABLE of CONTENTS
0 My objective is two-fold
2 I want versus I will
3 Is it a resolution or re-solution?
4 How many reasons do you have for willing this resolution to life?
5 A resolution is a goal, it’s an objective.
6 Beginning, Middle and End.
7 Okay, I don’t think I conveyed the importance of point 6., very well.
8 Will you enjoy your journey towards your resolution? But what if you’re not going to enjoy the journey, what if it’s a grind?
9 Edison’s thoughts
10 The next step
P.S. #1 Weak in New Year’s Resolutions
P.S. #2 Earn $10!
Hello, students, parents and everyone else. The very best to you in 2024.
Today’s Math by Edison article is geared to students and anyone who is new to New Year’s resolutions or haven’t had much success in the past, and now need to get a little better at achieving resolutions.
0 My objective is two-fold.
#1 Have you start understanding the steps to bring your resolution to life
#2 I’ll share a ‘resolution’ I have, “I will write funny,” to give you insights into understanding the steps I use to bring a resolution to life. And I’ll give an update once a month, from January 2024 to January 2025 (12x), to observe and learn how my journey unfolds.
Let’s do this:
1. So what’s your New Year’s resolution?
Achieving any resolution involves understanding, reinforcing, learning, planning, creating habits, learning from your mistakes, and persevering; however, for this article, I’ll approach it differently.
My ‘resolution’ is, I will write funny - end date is Jan. 3, 2025. It’s in quotations as it’s an objective I’ve been working on for a while.
2. I want versus I will
Use words that move you. I recommend you use the word will and not want: I want to write funny versus I will write funny.
I ‘want’ is more hopeful and communicates it might or might not happen. I want is a feeling; it’s nice if it happens, but if it doesn’t happen, I won’t be upset or lose any sleep over it. Want, is I’m lacking in this, I’m wishing for that.
I want a million things, but I am only willing to work towards a few of those million.
I will is, I'm willing, I'm eager, I'm keen. I will is a declaration that conveys, I am determined and have an unwavering commitment to the cause (aka I'm resolute).
‘I will’ is creating the future, today.
3. Is it a resolution or re-solution?
A resolution is setting an objective for the first time. It's you saying to the world, "I will …" and I'm going to be resolute with my actions, and I'm going to do whatever it takes. A resolution is more like a declaration, as in, I'm drawing a line in the sand" and "I resolve to do whatever it takes to achieve this resolution." It's a promise to yourself!
A resolution is a promise to yourself!
A re-solution is different - it’s trying another possible solution to solve a past problem - it's a 're' solution. It's a re-do, a re-try, a do-over, another stab at it, a re-take. And you should be stronger with a re-solution versus a resolution, as you've already worked on it and hopefully learned from your past setbacks and mistakes.
I write funny is both: a re-solution as I’m learning from past setbacks and am now trying different solutions to see what works. Plus, it’s a resolution as it’s new, and I’ve declared that ‘I will be funny’ - I’ve upped the commitment to bet on myself!
4. How many reasons do you have for willing this resolution to life?
If it’s one, then what happens on the one day when that sole solitary unaccompanied reason doesn’t move and motivate you to overcome obstacles? What happens when “I don’t feel like doing it” conquers your one reason? I would recommend having more than 10 reasons for the days when one or more of them aren’t motivating you into action.
I will write funny, has over 20 reasons so far
my #1 reason, ‘write in a way that I think is funny’, #6 write to make my heart go thump.
Math by Edison has over 100 reasons.
I have over 100 reasons for writing Math by Edison.
5. A resolution is a goal, it’s an objective that you’ve set on January 1.
If you set a resolution on any other day, it would be called a goal. And that means you need to be good at knowing how to achieve goals and objectives. On a simple level, the steps of goal-achieving are similar to the steps for learning, but to keep it clear-cut, think of it this way:
1] Speak your resolution, (The Beginning)
The Middle
2] Why is it so important for you to achieve this resolution? Come up with more than 10 reasons – these are your motives.
3] Write a) your objective and b) your reasons/motives
4] Make a detailed plan of the journey – understanding the steps
5] Then follow that plan - reinforcing the steps are key parts.
6] Use the feedback to learn from mistakes and make corrections.
7] Resolution achieved (The End)
A resolution is a goal, so … you need to be good at goal-achieving!
My resolution is to "write funny" which means to order words in a sentence that makes me chuckle or smile or laugh. I've gotten practice with this for some Math by Edison and Quick Steps articles, as I've made me smile 😊… sometimes … actually very times😊.
6. Beginning, Middle and End
Think of the steps to bring your resolution to life as you, writing a story, a book, a play or a movie - it has a Beginning, Middle and an End. The Beginning is the day you speak the resolution into existence. The End is the destination - did you achieve the resolution, fall short, or give up (and yes, giving up is an ‘end’)?
The Middle, ah, the middle, that’s the part that’s the essence of your resolution story, and without it, there would be no story, only a Beginning and an End, no resolution: Once upon a time. The End.
Once upon a time. The End.
Where’s the journey?
This Math by Edison article focuses on the middle, the 99% of the journey. Why 99%? Well, let’s look at math: The Beginning of your Resolution is the day you speak it into existence (or yell, as I did, I WILL WRITE FUNNY)! And the End is how you do on your Resolution, and both happen in seconds.
In math? A Resolution Beginning is setting the objective. The End is how you did on objective/resolution (e.g. got that 80, didn’t get that 80, persevering more, understanding better). But your end depends on what happens between the Beginning and End (aka the Middle – lessons learnt, understanding, motivation, homework done, studying for tests, feedback from the teacher, learning from mistakes).
If you’re new to this, view the journey as the resolution.
7. Okay, I don’t think I conveyed the importance of point 6., very well.
Something was lacking. Give me a moment to think about another way to teach this, ‘Beginning, Middle and End’. …. Thinking … I’m still thinking … [many minutes later].
I got it: think of your resolution as the title of a story, book, play or screenplay you’re writing. You know what the ending looks like (… and I lived happily ever after achieving my resolution.”) Now write the middle, the story, the journey. If you’re into writing or stories or enjoy movies, then create characters - a protagonist (you) and antagonist/adversary (your resolution), create a location, conflict, character arcs, obstacles to overcome, struggles … and finally a resolution of the conflict*.
* See what I just did there, 😊, I’m smiling as I wrote funny. Ha! I wrote ‘resolution to the conflict’ but used the word ‘resolution’ to mean something different. That was neat Edison, pat on the back ... well done to self. I digressed, but if that brought a smile to your face too 😊, that’s reason #16 on my ‘I will write funny’ list – another person smiles or chuckles when they read what I write.
8. Will you enjoy your journey towards your resolution?
If yes, then you will put in the work, without complaints, create habits, persevere and get better at learning how to bring resolutions to life. And you win even if you ‘lose’ by not achieving the resolution, because you enjoyed the journey. And, you will have a second win as you’ve created some positive habits along the way which will be transferable to future objectives. Yay! And you’ve also gifted yourself a nice present, because no matter what happens, joy is in your future.
But what if you’re not going to enjoy the journey, what if it’s a grind?
Will you be able to stick with it through the un-fun times, the days when you don’t feel like doing it, the setbacks and surprises, the obstacles and challenges, the slow progress, frustrations, the non-instant gratification? If you know it’s going to be a slog, then the counter and the workaround are to have many reasons, as the reasons are your pillars of motivation. Aim to have more than 10 reasons to start, and then add to it regularly – do that enough, and there will be no reason for you to stop.
It takes me over 20 hours to write each Math by Edison article but when I first started, I initially thought it would take one or two hours. It’s frustrating at times, does not come easily, takes a long time, it’s a craft I’m a rookie at, but I plod away and persevere. Why do I do it if it takes so long? The 100 reasons! If one day the 18th and 32nd and 65th and the 70th to the 80th aren’t motivating me, then there’s going to be many others that do motivate me to keep going!
9. Edison’s thoughts
As a student, you're in the early stages of your learning life then, in the grand scheme of things, it's almost irrelevant whether you achieve the destination of the resolution (100%) or not. Of course, it’s terrific to achieve it, but if you get 85% of the way there that’s A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, as you’ve learned so much and gained valuable experience.
That’s why you’ll hear people say, it’s better to have tried than not tried at all.
But consider this, if 99% of the journey is the time you're going to spend working towards that resolution (the Middle of the story), then I think it makes sense to notice your new positive habits, your added motivations, your learning and learning about yourself, your self-talk when faced with an obstacle, pat yourself on the back, acknowledge your successes, as the journey towards any resolution mirrors any part of life. You're learning! You don't always get what you want, but you always get what you're willing to do.
You don’t always get what you want, but you always get what you’re willing to do.
10. Next step
If you now have the fire in the belly and are ready to be resolute in your actions towards your resolution or re-solution, then BOOM, go for it! BEGIN your journey by starting to do and ‘write’ your middle of your story.
Keep me posted of your progress. Once a month I will give you an update on, ‘I will write funny’ resolution story.
Happy resolution!
Edison
Edison Hopkinson, BSc Mech Eng, B.Ed.
Math Learning Strategist
Strategies to get better with your 2024 New Year’s resolution.
P.S. If this is the first time you’ve thought about a resolution, or if you’re unsure, or never set a goal or resolution and are still tentative, here are two simple insights that will help. However, the second is tougher than you think.
P.S. #1 Weak in New Year’s resolutions?
Please keep it simple and, short and within reach at the beginning. Start small, keep it simple, tiny steps, baby steps, crawl first if you have to. It’s essential that you have little victories and successes, as that’s your encouragement and the food that feeds you to not give up on that resolution.
For example, starting small can be as simple as, “On Tuesday, I’ll make my bed” or “Tomorrow, I will spend 20 minutes doing math at home”. Whatever you set, it has to be something you haven’t done before. It’s problem-solving – you’re aiming to figure out how to get something you presently don’t have. And yes, I know, these are not gargantuan, save-the-planet-type resolutions, but you've got to start somewhere, right? One step, then a second, then a third …
Think of your resolution as more of a learning journey, and less a destination.
P.S. #2 Earn $10!
If you’re thinking, Edison, earn $10, that’s a walk in the park! Yeah, it seems simple, but hold your hats as it actually goes counter to ‘having early success’, #1 above, but it will have you understand what to expect and the pitfalls and obstacles that lie ahead with your resolution.
Here's what I mean: I'm creating a fictitious person called Mim that you can consider to be you. Mim's and your New Year's resolution is to earn $10, but Mim cannot 'beg, borrow or steal', ask for it from a friend, take it out of the bank account or wallet, or get it from their job. Mim has to figure out another way to make $10. Why so many restrictions on Mim's resolution? Because w/o the restrictions, all that’s left to do is, Mim will earn $10 (The Introduction). Mim asked Aunt Sally for $10, and Aunt Sally gave Mim $10. The End.*
Movie's over! Resolution achieved. Learning minimal. Not repeatable. Where's the journey? Where's the middle?
Movie's over! Resolution achieved. Learning minimal. Not repeatable. Where's the journey? Where's the middle? It's literally a short story that's too short a short story. I'm not sure anyone would be willing to go to that movie, plus there's not much experience gleaned by you writing that story - it’s a get ‘rich’ quick story.
It's the middle, where the interesting stuff happens, the ups and downs, obstacles, overcoming the obstacles, the learning, excitement, setbacks, growth of the character (you), the thrills, fun … that's the journey you want to be on. Mim (aka you) will have follow the goal-setting steps in point 5.
Mim, will earn $10 (The Introduction). Mim asked Aunt Sally for $10, and Aunt Sally gave Mim $10. The end.
*Note to self: Hey, those words that I wrote, “…and Aunt Sally gave Mim $10. The end “, were funny. Ha. 😊. I’m writing funny. Yay! Hooray! Okay calm down Edison. You got step 1 (The Beginning), you know the end step (the End), now start walking and take it one step at a time.