Lt Col Ankit Sharma
ankit.cloudnine@gmail.com
Every year begins with hope neatly packaged as resolutions. We promise change, better health, sharper foucs, kinder behaviour and greater success. Yet, by the end of January, most of these promises quietly fade. Not because we lack intention but because we mistake enthusiasm for discipline and desire for commitment. Perhaps its time to look at resolutions differently through the lived wisdom of two contrasting yet complementary lives: a Soldier and a Monk.
Both live by resolve, not resolutions. One protects the nation with unwavering discipline, the other guards the mind with quiet detachment. Their lives offer a blueprint for resolutions that do not collapse under convenience.
WHY ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS FAIL
Resolutions often fail because they are:
* Overambitious but under disciplined.
* Self-centred, ignoring responsibility beyond the self.
* Dependent on motivation, not habit.
A Soldier and a Monk approach life diffidently . They do not rely on moods. They rely on systems, values and daily practice.
SOLDIER’S PERSPECTIVE
A Soldier understands that survival, success and victory depend on consistency especially when motivation is absent.
PERSONAL RESOLUTIONS
* Train daily, even when uncomfortable- Fitness is not seasonal, it is operational readiness.
* Sharpens Skills Continuously- Weapons, tactics and mind must never rust.
* Build Mental Resilience- Control fear, ego and impulse because panic costs lives.
* Live Simply- Excess weakens agility.
RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS SOCIETY AND COUNTRY
* Uphold Integrity- Honour in uniform and in civilian life.
* Be an Example of Discipline- Society learns more from conduct than speeches.
* Serve Beyond Duty Hours- Help in disasters, guide the youth , protect the vulnerable.
* Nation before Self- Comfort is negotiable, commitment is not.
MONK’S PERSPECTIVE
A Monk knows that the greatest battles are fought within. Victory here brings peace that no external success can guarantee.
Personal Resolutions
* Practise Daily Mindfulness- Begin each day with awareness, not anxiety.
* Detach from excess desire- Want less to live more.
* Observe Before Reacting- Silence often carried greater wisdom than words.
* Cultivate Gratitude- Contentment is the highest wealth.
Responsibiltiy Towards Humanity
* Practise compassion without discrimination- Humanity has no borders.
* Reduce harm, thorugh Words, actions and consumption.
* Guide, not Judge- Every individual walks their own path.
* Protect Nature- Live lightly on the earth.
For a Monk, resolution is not about achievement, it is about alignment with truth.
WHERE THE SOLDIER AND MONK MEET
The Soldier teaches us discipline without excuses.
The Monk teaches us peace without possessions.
Together, they offer realistic resolutions:
* Be disciplined, but not restless.
* Be ambitious, but not attached.
* Serve self-improvement, while serving something larger than self.
A PRACTICAL NEW YEAR RESOLVE
* Show up every day, with discipline of a Soldier and awareness of a Monk”
Because real change does not happen on 1st January . It happens quietly on ordinary days , when no one is watching.
That’s how Soldiers win wars. That’s how Monks win the mind.
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