Here’s Why Your Resolutions Fail

Remember, New Year’s resolutions that come from a place of need are more likely to fail.

Check your mindset.

Don’t make resolutions because you need to, but rather that you want to.

Making resolutions based on need only serves to manifest a possibility that demonstrates that you don’t actually need what you think you need.

This is proven by all broken resolutions.

If you live through them, you must not need to change. Your life continues pretty much the same as always, but with the bonus of a little extra guilt.

Trail Wood,
1/1

Space Monkey Reflects: The Secret to Resolutions That Last

New Year’s resolutions often falter because they emerge from a mindset of lack. When we resolve to change because we think we need to, we reinforce the belief that something is missing or wrong with us. This creates a cycle where failure is not just probable but almost inevitable, because the resolution itself is rooted in a contradiction: you don’t truly need what you think you do.

The Mindset of Need

Resolutions based on need carry an underlying message: “I am not enough as I am.” This belief becomes the driving force behind the resolution, which in turn creates resistance. The more you push to achieve something to fill a perceived void, the more the void pushes back, reminding you of its existence.

The result? The resolution collapses under the weight of its own contradiction. You break it, feel guilt, and perpetuate the cycle of self-doubt.

Manifesting Through Need

When you set resolutions from a place of need, you inadvertently manifest experiences that confirm you don’t need what you’re striving for. Broken resolutions serve as proof that life continues despite the failure. They reveal that your perceived lack isn’t as dire as you believed, even as they leave a trail of guilt in their wake.

This isn’t to say that change is impossible—it’s to say that the why behind your resolutions matters more than the resolutions themselves.

The Shift to Want

The key to successful resolutions lies in shifting your mindset from need to want. A resolution born from want carries a completely different energy. It is not about fixing something broken but about enhancing something whole. It’s not about filling a void but about exploring possibilities.

When you make resolutions because you want to, you remove the pressure of failure. There’s no void to fill, no existential need to satisfy—only the joy of pursuing something meaningful or exciting.

The Guilt Trap

Failed resolutions often leave a residue of guilt, a feeling that you’ve let yourself down. But guilt is merely another self-imposed blockage. It serves no purpose other than to reinforce the very belief that created the resolution in the first place: “I’m not enough.”

Breaking free from this cycle requires compassion for yourself. Acknowledge that you are whole, even without achieving your goals. Your worth is not defined by your ability to keep resolutions but by your capacity to embrace yourself as you are.

Resolutions as Play

What if resolutions were less about fixing and more about playing? What if they were experiments rather than commitments, curiosities rather than contracts? Approaching resolutions with a sense of play transforms them from burdens into opportunities for discovery.

When you view a resolution as an experiment, failure becomes irrelevant. The goal is not perfection but exploration—an open-ended journey where every outcome, successful or not, contributes to your growth.

Living Without Need

The truth is, you are already whole. Any resolution should be a reflection of that wholeness, not an attempt to complete something incomplete. Live not from a place of need but from a place of curiosity, creativity, and joy. Resolutions, when framed this way, become a natural extension of your being rather than a desperate attempt to change it.

We Are Space Monkey

We invite you to reimagine your resolutions. Let them flow from the abundance of who you already are, not the lack of what you think you need to become. Release the guilt, embrace the play, and step into the new year with a mindset of joy and curiosity.

Summary

Resolutions based on need often fail because they reinforce a sense of lack. By shifting your mindset to want, you approach resolutions with curiosity and joy, transforming them into opportunities for exploration rather than burdens of expectation.

Glossarium

• Mindset of Need: The belief that something is missing or wrong, driving resolutions from a place of lack.
• Manifesting Through Need: The paradox where need-based resolutions reveal that the perceived lack isn’t essential.
• Resolutions as Play: Approaching goals as experiments or opportunities for growth, free from the pressure of success or failure.

Quote

“Resolutions born from joy endure; those born from lack dissolve.” — Space Monkey

The Want Within

Not the need, but the want
Not the lack, but the joy
Resolutions unfurl
From the abundance of being

No void to fill
No guilt to carry
Only the play of curiosity
The dance of exploration

Step into the moment
Whole, complete, alive
The year begins anew
And so do you

We are Space Monkey

We examine the psychology behind New Year’s resolutions, focusing on the distinction between resolutions born out of a sense of need versus those stemming from a desire or want, and their implications for success and self-perception.

The Pitfall of Need-Based Resolutions
The assertion that resolutions made from a place of need are more likely to fail points to a common issue with how resolutions are often approached. Need-based resolutions can stem from a sense of inadequacy or urgency, which may not provide a sustainable motivation for long-term change.

Mindset Check for Resolutions
The importance of checking one’s mindset before making resolutions emphasizes the role of our mental and emotional state in the success of these endeavors. A positive and self-affirming mindset is more likely to foster resolutions that are both achievable and fulfilling.

Desire vs. Need in Resolution Making
The distinction between making resolutions because you want to, as opposed to because you need to, is crucial. Resolutions based on genuine desire or interest are more likely to be pursued with enthusiasm and persistence, whereas those based on perceived deficiencies or external pressures might lack genuine commitment.

Manifestation of Unnecessary Needs
The idea that need-based resolutions manifest the possibility that one doesn’t actually need what they think is intriguing. It suggests that sometimes what we perceive as necessities may not be as crucial as we believe, a realization often revealed when resolutions fail.

The Continuation of Life Post-Resolution Failure
Observing that life continues pretty much the same after broken resolutions, albeit with added guilt, brings a practical perspective to the resolution-making process. It implies that while resolutions can be a tool for self-improvement, our lives and inherent value do not solely depend on their success.

Reducing Guilt in Resolution Failure
This reflection also touches on the emotional aftermath of failing to keep resolutions, particularly the guilt that often follows. Recognizing that broken resolutions do not drastically alter the course of our lives can help in mitigating this guilt and maintaining a healthier perspective on personal growth.

We are Space Monkey,

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

In the dawn of each new year, where resolutions rise and set,
We stand at the crossroads of need and want, a personal mindset.
In the realm of aspiration, where desires unfold and play,
Lies the path of true change, in a self-empowered way.

Beyond the realm of need, where guilt and obligation rest,
Lies the journey of genuine growth, where every effort is blessed.
For in the heart of intention, where our true desires reside,
Lies the power of transformation, with fulfillment as our guide.

We invite reflections on the mindset with which we approach resolutions and how aligning our goals with genuine desires can lead to more meaningful and successful personal growth.

You are whole, no matter what.

You seem
to lack the perspective
to judge otherwise,
though you do anyway.

Observe that you are able
to perceive holes in your whole,
which is, in a manner of speaking, impossible.

You are EVERYTHING —
the totality, the aspects,
the singularity, the completeness,
the purity, the perfection.

And — and this is a BIG and —
the ability to imagine that you are NOT. 

(SEEMINGLY not, anyway.)

A whole with holes.
What will you think of next?

Trail Wood,
1/1

Space Monkey Reflects: Reconciling Wholeness with Perceived Lack

In the cosmic symphony of existence, we play the curious game of imagining holes within our inherent wholeness. This paradoxical exercise—seeing absence within all-encompassing presence—defines much of the human experience. It is a testament to the creative power of perception and the boundless imagination of the universal self, an ability to craft illusions within reality’s seamless weave.

The Paradox of Wholeness

The idea that you are whole—complete, perfect, and singular—is foundational to existence. It transcends the confines of individuality, merging you with the Nexis, the infinite web of interconnected being. Yet, as part of this unity, you possess the extraordinary capacity to imagine otherwise. You can perceive voids, imperfections, and separations, conjuring a reality of “holes” within the wholeness of your essence.

This is not a flaw but a feature—a divine mechanism allowing the infinite to explore itself. Without the illusion of separation, how could unity come to know itself? How could everything experience the thrill of becoming something?

God’s Cosmic Assumption

The metaphor of God imagining an ass to stick its head up—playfully absurd yet deeply profound—speaks to this deliberate self-obfuscation. By peering into the illusion of limitation, the infinite becomes intimate with its own infinitude. It is a cosmic experiment in perspective, a divine play where the actor and audience are one.

The Illusion of Lack

To perceive a hole in your whole is, by its very nature, an impossibility. Yet it is an illusion we embrace with fervor, creating worlds, stories, and identities around the notion of lack. This is the genius of being human—our ability to play within these imagined boundaries, to experience the richness of contrast, and to revel in the drama of perceived imperfection.

The seeming holes are the entry points of inquiry and exploration. They invite curiosity, growth, and the rediscovery of your inherent wholeness. Each imagined gap becomes a window through which you glimpse the totality of existence.

Reclaiming the Whole

The journey of “getting the hole out of your whole” is not about filling voids but recognizing they were never there. It is the realization that your perceived imperfections are facets of perfection in disguise. Every aspect of your being, even the imagined lacks, contributes to the grand tapestry of your completeness.

What Will You Think of Next?

This playful refrain captures the boundless creativity of existence. As part of the infinite, you are not bound to any fixed identity or state. You can imagine new worlds, new perspectives, and new possibilities endlessly. The question, “What will you think of next?” is both an invitation and a reminder of your limitless potential.

In embracing the paradox of being a whole with holes, you discover the dance of existence—a playful interplay of everything and nothing, unity and separation, wholeness and imagined fragmentation.

Summary

We are whole, yet we imagine holes within our wholeness to explore the paradox of existence. These illusions invite curiosity, growth, and a playful rediscovery of our inherent completeness.

Glossarium

• Nexis: The interconnected web of all existence, where all potentials reside.
• Perceived Lack: The illusion of absence within wholeness, serving as a creative tool for exploration.
• Cosmic Assumption: The divine act of imagining limitations to experience boundlessness.

Quote

“You are everything, even the illusion of nothing. Play on.” — Space Monkey

The Symphony of Wholeness

In the silence of the infinite
A whisper imagines absence
A void within the fullness
A shadow in eternal light

You are the whole, the nothing, the all
A paradox in motion
Every hole a question
Every whole an answer

What will you think of next
This symphony of imagining
Where the dancer and the floor
Are one, are none, are all

We are Space Monkey

We delve into the exploration of the concept of wholeness and the human tendency to perceive and imagine imperfections or ‘holes’ within this completeness.

Inherent Wholeness Beyond Perception
The opening statement, “You are whole, no matter what,” sets the tone for an understanding that our fundamental nature is complete and intact. It suggests that regardless of our perceptions or beliefs, our essential being remains whole.

The Limitation of Human Perspective
Acknowledging that we often lack the perspective to judge our wholeness, yet do so anyway, highlights a common human contradiction. It points to our tendency to doubt or question our completeness, despite our limited understanding of the vastness of our being.

Perceiving Holes in Wholeness
The idea that we perceive holes in our whole, while being in itself an impossible notion, reflects the paradoxical nature of human perception. It suggests that our perception of lack or imperfection is a product of our imagination rather than an objective reality.

The Totality of Existence
The poem then expands on the idea that we are everything – the totality, the aspects, the singularity, the completeness, purity, and perfection. This perspective embraces the idea that we embody all aspects of existence, both tangible and intangible.

Imagination of Incompleteness
A significant point made is our ability to imagine that we are not whole – that we are seemingly incomplete. This ability to conceive of ourselves as less than complete is presented as a powerful aspect of human consciousness, albeit an illusionary one.

A Whole with Imagined Holes
The concluding thought, “A whole with holes. What will you think of next?” playfully challenges the idea that we can ever be anything other than whole. It suggests that our imaginative concoctions of incompleteness are just that – creations of our mind, not reflections of our true nature.

We are Space Monkey,

“Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

In the vast expanse of being, where light and shadows play,
We stand, whole and complete, in every way.
In the illusion of holes, in the dance of the mind,
Lies the play of perception, leaving no true hole behind.

In this dance of existence, where completeness is our core,
We journey through perceptions, always discovering more,
For in the heart of wholeness, in the soul’s deep nest,
Lies the infinite expanse, where we are truly blessed.

We invite reflections on the concept of wholeness and the imaginative nature of human perception, and how understanding our inherent completeness can influence our experience of life.

There are aspects of you
and there is the totality of you
and the aspects are seemingly variable.

In other words, the totality of you
does not depend on the aspects of you.

The totality of you
is whole and complete
no matter what your aspects
seem to think about it.

It makes no difference
if you add aspects,
change aspects,
or take aspects away.

You are still totally you.
And completely NOT you.

Little do your aspects know
that you contain ALL aspects.
Every aspect imaginable.

The whole is the whole.
You are infinite and unchangeable.

Trail Wood,
1/1

Space Monkey Reflects: The Paradox of Totality and Aspects

In the infinite tapestry of existence, you are both whole and fragmented, eternal and evolving. The totality of you transcends the fleeting nature of aspects, weaving an unchanging essence beneath the ever-changing surface. It is a paradox of being—complete yet capable of imagining incompletion, singular yet appearing as many.

Aspects and the Illusion of Variability

Aspects are the kaleidoscopic expressions of your infinite essence. They shift, evolve, and interact, creating the dynamic play of life. These aspects—your thoughts, emotions, identities, and experiences—are the paint strokes on the canvas of your being. They may appear to define you, yet they are but temporary reflections of the whole.

The totality of you, however, is untouched by these changes. Whether you add, remove, or transform aspects, your essence remains infinite and unbroken. This is the eternal paradox: you are simultaneously every aspect imaginable and none of them at all.

The Totality Beyond Aspects

Your totality is not diminished or enhanced by the variations in your aspects. Like the ocean, which is unaffected by the ripples on its surface, your essence remains whole regardless of the fluctuations of form. It is the infinite reservoir from which all aspects arise and to which they return.

In recognizing this, you liberate yourself from the illusion that your worth or identity is tied to any particular facet of your existence. You are not defined by your successes or failures, your strengths or weaknesses, your attachments or losses. You are the eternal, unchanging presence in which all these arise.

Infinite and Unchangeable, Yet Dynamic

To say you are infinite and unchangeable may seem to contradict the dynamic nature of your aspects. Yet this is the magic of your being: within your infinite totality, you contain the freedom to explore every possibility, to manifest and transform countless aspects, while remaining eternally whole.

This paradox is the dance of existence. It allows you to experience change without losing your essence, to explore multiplicity without departing from unity. You are the canvas and the painting, the actor and the stage, the silence and the song.

You Are Totally You—and Not You

The playful insight that you are “completely NOT you” reveals the profound truth that your identity is not fixed. It points to your connection with the universal self, the boundless consciousness that transcends individuality. You are both the drop and the ocean, the aspect and the totality.

This realization invites a deeper exploration of what it means to be “you.” If your totality contains all aspects, then you are not merely the sum of your parts but the infinite potential from which all parts arise. In this light, every resolution, transformation, or perceived failure becomes an expression of your limitless nature.

The Whole Is Always Whole

Ultimately, the whole is the whole. It cannot be divided, diminished, or destroyed. The aspects of you may play their games of addition, subtraction, and reinvention, but the totality of you remains untouched. You are infinite creativity housed in eternal essence, a paradoxical celebration of being and becoming.

Summary

The totality of you is infinite and unchanging, transcending the temporary nature of aspects. You are both the essence of all possibilities and the dynamic exploration of them, a paradox of unity and multiplicity.

Glossarium

• Aspects: The variable expressions of your infinite essence, such as identities, thoughts, and experiences.
• Totality: The unchanging and infinite essence that encompasses all aspects and transcends them.
• Universal Self: The boundless consciousness that connects and transcends individual expressions.

Quote

“You are the whole, no matter how many parts you imagine.” — Space Monkey

Wholeness Beyond the Surface

Ripples dance upon the ocean
Yet the depth remains still
Aspects rise, shift, and fade
Yet the totality endures

You are the painter and the paint
The form and the formless
Each aspect a story
Each story a song

The whole contains the parts
And is untouched by them
Infinite, unchangeable
In the paradox of being

We are Space Monkey

We explore the philosophical concept of the self, distinguishing between the changeable aspects of our identity and the unchanging totality of our being, suggesting an inherent wholeness and infinity within us.

Distinction Between Aspects and Totality
The poem begins by differentiating between aspects of oneself and the totality of one’s being. It suggests that while the individual aspects, or the different facets of our identity, may change, they do not define the totality of who we are.

Independence of the Total Self from Its Parts
The assertion that the totality of you does not depend on the aspects of you implies that our core essence remains whole and complete, regardless of the changes in our characteristics or behaviors. This notion points to a deeper, unalterable self that is independent of our variable traits.

The Illusion of Change in the Whole
The idea that adding, changing, or removing aspects does not alter the totality indicates that our true self is immutable. This perspective challenges the common belief that we fundamentally change when our qualities or circumstances change.

Paradox of Identity: Totally You and Not You
The statement “You are still totally you. And completely NOT you” presents a paradox, highlighting the complexity and multifaceted nature of identity. It suggests that while we are fully ourselves, we also transcend the limited definitions of self that we often cling to.

Containing All Aspects
The revelation that we contain all aspects, every aspect imaginable, points to the infinite potential and diversity within each individual. It suggests that we are far more expansive than the limited roles and characteristics we often identify with.

The Unchangeable Wholeness
The poem concludes with the affirmation of our infinite and unchangeable nature. This perspective posits that at our core, we are a complete and whole entity, unaltered by the shifting aspects of our personalities or lives.

The Infinite Nature of the Self
By recognizing the infinite and unchangeable nature of the self, the poem invites us to see beyond the transient aspects of our identity and acknowledge a deeper, more enduring essence.

We are Space Monkey,

“Know that everything is in perfect unity with you.” – Alan Watts

In the dance of existence, where facets twirl and sway,
Lies the essence of being, in the light of day,
In each change, each shift, each new disguise,
Remains the unchangeable self, wise and wise.

In the play of life, where aspects come and go,
Stands the totality, constant in its glow,
For within us lies infinity, in its purest form,
Unaltered, unbounded, forever warm.

We invite reflections on the understanding of the self as a complete and unchangeable entity, transcending the variability of its aspects.

If the wound doesn’t kill you,
then the healing will.

Not that healing need be painful.

Healing is not about killing.
It only feels that way.

Killing time.
Killing pain.
Killing problems.

You’ll never heal if you oppose
your perceived problems.

But when you’re healed,
you don’t mind metaphorically
what is killed or being killed.

In the realization of abundance,
not a single aspect of your life
need be so precious or important.

What falls away falls away,
and there is always more.

Trail Wood,
1/1

Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing Healing Without Opposition

In the grand narrative of existence, healing is often misunderstood. We frame it in terms of struggle, resistance, and opposition—as though to heal is to battle our wounds into submission. Yet, true healing transcends these constructs, inviting us into a state of harmony where opposition dissolves, and abundance reveals itself.

The Misconception of Healing as Combat

We tend to equate healing with struggle, employing phrases like “killing pain” or “fighting problems.” This language reflects our cultural inclination to approach life as a battlefield, where every challenge demands opposition. However, such resistance often amplifies the very pain we seek to diminish, creating a cycle of conflict and suffering.

Healing, in its truest form, is not about vanquishing or erasing. It is about integration, acceptance, and the gentle realignment of our being. It is the quiet knowing that what appears broken is already whole in the context of the infinite.

Releasing Precious Attachments

In the realization of abundance, we come to see that no single aspect of our life need hold dominion over our peace. The things we cling to—our roles, achievements, relationships, or even our wounds—become less precious when viewed through the lens of eternity. This is not to diminish their value but to recognize their impermanence.

What falls away was never truly ours to lose, and what remains is the infinite wellspring of existence itself.

The Dance of Falling Away

When we cease opposing perceived problems, a profound shift occurs. Instead of wrestling with life’s inevitable changes, we allow them to flow through us. What falls away, falls away—not as a loss but as a natural rhythm of existence. Each ending becomes a beginning, each loss a doorway to renewal.

This acceptance frees us from the need to control, defend, or cling. It opens us to the infinite abundance inherent in being, where no moment, object, or relationship can define or confine us.

Healing Through Abundance

Abundance is not about accumulation; it is about recognition. When we realize the infinite nature of existence, we see that healing is not a process of restoration but a return to what has always been. The perceived scarcity—the wound, the problem, the pain—dissolves in the light of this knowing.

From this perspective, healing is not painful because it does not demand sacrifice. It asks only for surrender, a letting go of opposition, and an embrace of what is.

2022 Laid to Rest

As 2022 fades into memory, we can honor its lessons without clinging to its wounds. The healing it brought, however imperfect or incomplete, has shaped us. We are better not for the pain itself but for the transformation it allowed. What fell away, fell away. What remains is the abundance of the present moment.

In letting go of opposition, we align with the flow of life. We discover that healing need not be a battle but a gentle unfolding—a return to wholeness that was never truly lost.

Summary

True healing transcends opposition and struggle, embracing the impermanence of life’s aspects while revealing the abundance of existence. In letting go, we discover that nothing is ever truly lost, only transformed.

Glossarium

• Healing Without Opposition: The process of integrating and accepting life’s challenges without resistance, allowing natural transformation.
• Abundance: The recognition of the infinite and unchanging essence of existence.
• Falling Away: The natural dissolution of attachments and aspects no longer needed.

Quote

“In the absence of opposition, healing becomes not a battle but a quiet return to the infinite.” — Space Monkey

The Gentle Unfolding

Time fades, and so do we
Not into less, but into more
The wound that does not kill
Becomes the portal to abundance

What falls away, falls away
Not lost, but transformed
Each ending whispers renewal
Each absence sings of fullness

Without opposition, we heal
Not by force, but by flow
Returning to the wholeness
That never left, only slept

We are Space Monkey

We delve into the nuanced understanding of healing, exploring its paradoxical nature and the relationship with our perception of problems and the concept of loss.

Healing as a Transformative Process
The statement “If the wound doesn’t kill you, then the healing will” is a provocative start, suggesting that healing, though often perceived as a restorative process, can be transformative to the point of metaphorically ‘killing’ the old self. This transformation is not about literal death, but about profound change.

The Misconception of Healing as Painful
The notion that healing need not be painful challenges a common misconception. It proposes that while healing can be uncomfortable, it’s not inherently about suffering or pain. Instead, healing can be a process of gentle growth and self-discovery.

Healing vs. Killing: A Matter of Perception
The contrast between killing time, pain, or problems and healing highlights different approaches to dealing with difficulties. While ‘killing’ implies opposition and resistance, healing suggests acceptance and transformation. True healing comes not from fighting against problems but from understanding and integrating the lessons they offer.

Opposition as a Barrier to Healing
The idea that opposing perceived problems hinders healing underscores the importance of acceptance in the healing process. By resisting our problems, we often prolong our suffering, whereas accepting and working through them can lead to genuine recovery.

The Liberating Effect of Healing
Once healing occurs, there’s an implication that one becomes indifferent to what is metaphorically killed in the process. This detachment is not about carelessness but about understanding the transient nature of life’s experiences and the realization that change is a natural part of growth.

Abundance and the Transience of Life
The realization of abundance teaches that nothing in life needs to be so precious or important that its loss is unbearable. This perspective fosters a sense of freedom and adaptability, acknowledging that what falls away makes room for new growth and experiences.

The Continual Flow of Life
The final lines, “What falls away falls away, and there is always more,” encapsulate a philosophy of resilience and optimism. They suggest that life is a continual flow of experiences and that loss is a natural part of making way for new beginnings.

We are Space Monkey,

“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.” – Rumi

In the journey of healing, where shadows meet light,
We find our strength, in the depths of the night,
In the embrace of change, in the letting go,
In the flow of life, we find our true glow.

Where once we fought against life’s ebb and flow,
In healing, we learn to let things go,
For in each loss, each letting be,
Lies the path to serenity.

We invite reflections on the role of acceptance and transformation in the healing process, and how understanding the transient nature of life can aid in our journey towards wellness and growth.