By Marcia Appel — Last Updated: January 14, 2025

We hold so tightly to the word “resolute” and its direct descendant, “resolution”. We took this lovely word with its Latin footprints, held it hostage, and morphed it into something that tends toward a kind of rigidity and judgment that often results in disappointment and feelings of failure. As a language lover, I wanted to follow the etymology of “resolute” and “resolution”. During the research process in December, I connected some dots. As I write this on New Year’s Day 2025, a new perspective revealed itself – just in time – and set me free.

The word resolute in its Latin origin means the process of loosening. In physics, the word resolution indicates the smallest measurable change in each variable. As I pondered this word, and all the millions of resolutions being set on this auspicious day, I wanted to shout: This is more about spaciousness than it is about meeting some demanding goal and more about being aware of incremental change, however small, than about scaling the summit.

Suddenly, the possibilities of the new year seemed refreshing and exciting.

What if, in 2025, we practiced this definition of resolution and loosened our approach to our own lives and how we react to others and to constantly changing circumstances?

Recently, a friend of decades stared into an abyss of sorts, what he described as a lack of a spiritual life or philosophy. He felt a deep sense of sadness, confusion, and self-criticism about this. What if, though, my friend could see his questions as a loosening of his mind into a rich journey of discovery rather than a lacking or failure? What if from this incremental yet powerful shift in perception he prowled through the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, Buddhist and yoga philosophy, quantum physics, or wherever spaciousness led him? What if he opened to considering his sincere and dedicated volunteer work as a form of spiritual practice? What if?

The more I considered using “loosening” as the root definition of “resolute” and “resolution”, the more a sense of wonder and surprise enveloped me. For example: For many years, I have poured over the one-week summer offerings at Oxford University, led by notable professors and teachers, especially one about the writings of Jane Austin. Instead of honoring this deep heartfelt desire, I pushed it away, putting up barriers caused by hard goals. Shouldn’t I read all of Austin’s works first and watch all the movie and television versions of them? Wouldn’t it be better to read the 100 greatest books of all time first? Instead of creating more spaciousness in my life and approach to life, I constricted both.

I thought about all the exercise and weight-goal resolutions I made over the years: I will lose 20 pounds by the end of February. I will go to the gym five times a week. I will take a yoga class five times a week from January through March. I recalled how many times I “failed”, even though any incremental positive change in healthy habits should be considered success. That led me to recall a time years ago when I stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel on a work trip to attend the Academy Awards (a story in itself).

One morning, I went to the pool area of this grand hotel to walk on one of the treadmills positioned in a lovely, shaded area near the shimmering water. To my amazement, who should climb on the machine next to me but Susan Sarandon, the accomplished actress. She paused for a moment during her routine to take a quick phone call. When it ended, she climbed back onto the machine, looked at me woefully and ruefully, and said, “Kids!” Ilaughed, and so did she. This launched a conversation between us of kids, marriage, the pressures of having a family and working – a real talk about real life.

Now on this first day of 2025, I loosened my resolution to approach yoga classes and hitting the gym as opportunities not only to bolster my health but also to spend time with friends or to make new ones. I called a friend about a standing date for yoga soon. I hope she says yes.

In yoga philosophy we learn of samskaras, the mental impressions, recollections, or psychological impressions that form knots or blockages in living a conscious life of awareness. It is thought that these samskaras can become actual physical “knots” in the body that cause dis-ease and disease. From my own direct experience and from observing thousands of yoga students in the classes I’ve taught, I’ve come to understand that loosening these knots goes hand in hand with loosening the tight strictures of unexamined rules, beliefs, and repetitive behaviors. As we loosen (become resolute), we see the beauty of each present moment of incremental change. This alters our perspective and how we relate to ourselves and to others. It opens space for life-long learning, listening to the heart’s deepest longing, and connecting with each other.

As I awoke on January 1 with these musings top of mind, New Year’s greetings flooded in, one of them from my friend Linda and sent to our group of four scattered among St. Paul, Bonita Springs, and Palm Springs. I found these words to be fitting, beautiful, and a perfect loosening of setting resolutions. I leave you with them now:

“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art – write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.”

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Marcia Appel

In 2006, Marcia, a former journalist and corporate executive, wrote the plan that launched Green Lotus. In 2007, Green Lotus opened, and Marcia and business partner Merry Beth Hovey, who joined in 2009, planted the seeds of service that are the foundation of the Green Lotus philosophy. "As teachers and healers," Marcia says, "we meet students and clients where they are. We learn and grow from each other -- and have fun doing it."

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