The Hindu Business Line : I promise...

No resolutions, only promises: Be original. Don't make resolutions you have no intention of keeping. Instead, fulfil promises you've made to yourself. In the TV serial Touched By An Angel, when eight-year-old Pete learns that he is dying, he immediately sets out to fulfil his promises: To master playing the piano. Make Mom complete the song she'd begun writing. Put Fluffy (his pet) into a loving home. Hoist a flag in his backyard as a signpost for the angels. Go to heaven.

Invite healing: Indeed, promises represent a piece of heavenly experience that we gladly invite into our lives. Promises radiate rays of healing light that elevate a mundane, unhealthy, dark existence into the realms of sweet peace, well-being and luminous grace. "I promise" contains an intention charged with the spark of the sacred. Illnesses result from a low consciousness that makes poor lifestyle choices. A promise activates a higher consciousness and, hence, higher lifestyle choices leading to radiant health.

Erase conflicts: A promise prioritises what is important. It makes your daily life more organised, steady and secure. You become clear-headed — this is what I care about, this is what I need and want to do. Your promise to yourself erases conflicts — you can't refuse or ignore all things secondary. And as you fulfil your promise, you experience something wonderful — a deep satisfaction, a great sense of strength and an inner growing dignity.

Just one promise: I suggest make just one promise — "I promise to exercise daily with a cheerful attitude." Tack it to your refrigerator, your notice board, and your dashboard. At first, it may feel like a pesky reminder. But as you honour it by acting on it, it will become a beautiful affirmation, a joyous one even.

Don't feel like exercising due to Monday blues? "I've promised," you say and haul yourself to the session. Each time you act on your promise, your will strengthens, your body becomes stronger, more flexible and attains more stamina. Each time you act on your promise, your mind calms. Make exercising a habit — a daily, must-do activity.

Let cheer lubricate: Exercising cheerfully is important. Cheer is a wonderful lubricant. It puts drops of willingness in the mind. It unlocks muscles and frees joints. It helps you get into the rhythm of exercise. When you get into the rhythm of exercise, the rhythm gets into you.

When you have the rhythm in you, you become blissfully absorbed in any activity that you take on. When you have the rhythm in you, you flow smoothly from one activity to another. Time loses its grip. An hour feels like 10 minutes. There are no jerks, no breaks, and no tensions. Everything is relaxing and refreshing.

Lessons from your workout: I've learnt valuable lessons from my workout that hold good in life as well. They are:

Enjoy the process of the workout without being attached to the results. In life, if you keep one eye on the results, it means you focus only one eye on the actual work. Keep both eyes brightly and enthusiastically on the process.

Work out in the spirit that it is a privilege to be able to move your body. It's so with work too. Gratitude keeps you from faltering or growing despondent in tough times.

Treat exercise as a purifying process. I see the first 20 minutes of my walk as a tune-up for my body when I iron out any physiological glitches. The next 20 minutes are for my mind — to sort out the day, and to exorcise the egoic demons from my head. The final 20 minutes are for my soul. I soar in freedom — in egolessness, in stillness, and in peace.

Ten Promises: Check out how you feel after three months. Are you feeling fitter and fresher? Are you feeling an inner order and strength? Is your self-esteem higher? Are you feeling younger? For sure, you will find an improvement in every sphere of your life. Now, every year, add on one more "I promise" without stopping the earlier activities undertaken, like so:

Year One: I promise I shall continue to exercise cheerfully.

Year Two: I promise to eat healthy, fat-free food.

Year Three: I promise to get into chanting meditation.

Year Four: I promise to think and talk health and happiness.

Year Five: I promise to look at the bright side of everything.

Year Six: I promise to feel happy at other people's success.

Year Seven: I promise to spend all my time in self-improvement rather than criticising and judging others.

Year Eight: I promise to forgive myself for my mistakes as also forgive others for theirs.

Year Nine: I promise to stop blaming people and situations and work on my own responses.

Year Ten: I promise to acknowledge, praise and thank others for their contribution in making life better, healthier and easier.

Promise cheerfully. Promise courageously. Fulfil every promise joyfully. And heaven is yours.

(The writer is co-author of the book, Fitness for Life.)

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