Power of a ‘thought'

Promises made in a hurry are seldom kept.

- I. M. Soni

Marcel Proust says, “It is always because of a state of mind which is not going to last that we make them. The very urgency of a condition that drives us to make resolutions is the same factor that will permit us to break the resolution at a future time when the conditions change.” Promises made in haste are seldom kept – nagged by serious illness, or the fear of it, the unspoken line of many is: “Let me recover this time. I will never take chances with my health in future.”

Similarly, when our misadventures are about to come home to roost, we secretly pray to escape resolving, in the heat of the moment, not to repeat them in future. Such resolves are writ in sands. They are honoured by breaking them.

The failure in resolves stems from our wrong approach. As Marcel Proust has pointed out it stems from a state of mind which in itself is temporary. As soon as the situation changes, we revert to our former mode of living, casting our resolves into the dustbin of discarded ideas. This goes on till another situation arises. We present ourselves with another well-meaning resolve which too ends in the debris of already broken ones.

Resolutions, to be effective, lasting, must be made at a time when no artificial or outside situation is affecting or judgment, when we are not being swayed by the guests of passing passions. These should be the result of cool deliberation, a combination of prudence and peace and principle.