Cultivating a Resolute Mindset: Pathways To Determination

 Cultivating a Resolute Mindset: Pathways to Determination

Recently, while casually searching on an OTT platform, I came across a movie called Chandu Champion! The film follows the incredible journey of Chandu, a young man from a rural village in Maharashtra who dreams of becoming a national boxing star. He joins the Indian Army, where his boxing skills shine, but his life changes drastically after he is severely injured during the 1965 Indo-Pak War. Devastated but determined, Chandu discovers a new passion in swimming. Despite facing ridicule and doubts, he pushes himself to the limit, refusing to let his disability define him or hinder his dream of becoming an Olympic medalist. His relentless efforts earn him a spot at the 1972 Paralympics in Germany, where he wins a gold medal in the 50m freestyle. The film stars Kartik Aaryan as India's first Paralympics gold medalist, Murlikant Petkar.

I recalled my memories of meeting Murlikant Petkar and listening to him share his stories about the army and his passion for sports. Who is Murlikant Petkar? From a village dreamer to India's first Paralympic gold medalist—his story is one of passion, resilience, and triumph over adversity.

The Key Question is whether our current education system

truly allows Space for a child

to dream and envision her/his future

-A Space where they can freely explore their interests,

set meaningful goals,

and work towards achieving them.

It is essential for children to have the opportunity to dream, nurture their aspirations, and develop them into a passion by establishing clear objectives.

This process of dreaming and goal-setting is a vital samskara—a formative value that shapes a learner's character and long-term vision. However, in the prevailing focus on academics and competitive achievements, there seems to be a significant lack of room for such personal exploration and growth. This raises concerns about whether we are nurturing the holistic development of our children or merely confining them within predefined academic expectations.

Remember the saying, "Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." This quote highlights that success is not merely the result of a single grand gesture; instead, it is the outcome of consistent dedicated efforts. It emphasizes that by setting realistic objectives and actively working towards them, individuals can achieve meaningful accomplishments.

At Jnana Prabodhini, the practices of Varsharambha and Varshant Upasana create a nurturing environment for learners to set their Sankalpa, or resolutions—expressing a strong determination to achieve their goals.

Varsharambha, a Sankalp Din (Resolution Day), helps to define resolutions as the driving force behind achieving one’s dreams and goals, emphasizing the need for a firm commitment to pursue objectives and work diligently towards them.

Establishing resolutions lays the groundwork for action and growth, demonstrating that determination is essential for transforming dreams into reality. By practising Sankalp Din, learners gradually cultivate Sankalpa Shakti, the Power of Resolution, which empowers them to stay focused and motivated.

The teacher's role is pivotal in this act of setting a resolution, guiding each child to articulate a set of statements that they can actively practice. Through this mentorship, teachers help to instill a sense of purpose and direction in the learners, enabling them to harness their potential effectively.

First Step: Dialogue with Students About Areas for Resolution Writing

The first step in resolution writing involves engaging students in dialogue about various suggested areas. Teachers should encourage open discussions about what students want to do, achieve, or change. This can be done by making a list of statements on the board and, ultimately, classifying and defining titles for the suggested areas for resolution writing.

Key areas for resolution writing include Physical Development, where students can commit to exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and participating in sports. Intellectual Development encourages goals such as reading books, learning new skills, and practicing mindfulness. Emotional Development consists of identifying one’s emotions (fear, anger, love, empathy, joy, etc.) and controlling them. Social Skills emphasize expressing feelings appropriately, being a good friend, and making new friends. In terms of Academic Achievements, students should set specific academic goals and develop effective study habits. Skill Enrichment can be pursued through extracurricular activities and online courses. Habits and Behaviour that involves creating daily routines, setting priorities focusing on maintaining a positive attitude and being responsible. Exposure to Society and Nature is essential, encouraging community engagement and exploration and preservation of the natural world. Hobbies allow for personal exploration and creativity, while Family Contributions highlight the importance of assisting family members and supporting one another. Finally, students can address Personal Development by overcoming fears and getting rid of bad habits.

Let students come up with ideas about these areas and establish aims that can be developed into actionable plans.

Step Two: Reflection on Areas of Resolution for Goal Setting

At second stage mentor should encourage and engage child in deep self-reflection about his dream. This phase of resolution writing emphasizes self-reflection, encouraging students to analyze their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and past experiences to identify key areas for personal growth. Students are guided to reflect on their strengths that can help them set new goals, areas needing improvement, interests that spark passion, and lessons from past successes and failures. Additionally, they consider benchmarks by looking up to role models whose achievements can inspire their own aspirations.

This reflection helps students gain clarity on their individual needs and ambitions, enabling them to choose relevant focus areas for the new session.

For example, a student who struggled with fitness might set a resolution to exercise regularly, while one who excelled in painting might aim to enter an art competition. The ultimate goal is for students to align their resolutions with their personal growth, creating meaningful and achievable goals for the upcoming academic session.

Step three : Selecting an Area and Writing broad Statements

In this stage of resolution writing, students should select an area of focus and craft two to three statements about what they want to achieve in that area. This step helps them translate their dreams or wishes into actionable goals, such as: I will exercise regularly, I will read books, I will learn a musical instrument, I will complete my homework, I will participate in extracurricular activities at school, I will volunteer for an environmental campaign, I will assist my mother in the kitchen, and I will work on overcoming my fear of public speaking.

This phase serves as a brainstorming session for statement writing. Mentors can encourage students to draft several statements and then categorize them based on their priority, interests, or willingness to pursue them. The statements can be rated as A, B, or C, depending on their importance and commitment level.

Step Fourth : Converting Broad Statements into Actionable SMART Objectives

In the fourth stage of resolution writing, students should focus on transforming their broad statements into actionable objectives by applying the SMART criteria. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant/Realistic, and Time-bound. This process allows students to refine their goals, making them clearer and more manageable. Limit set of by finalizing 5-6 workable statements.

Process of Modifications

To convert broad statements into SMART objectives, students should follow these steps:

Specific: Define the goal clearly by answering questions like who, what, where, when, and why.

Measurable: Establish criteria to measure progress and success.

Achievable: Ensure that the goal is realistic and attainable.

Relevant/Realistic: Align the goal with broader life aspirations and ensure it has significance; it should not be an unrealistic dream.

Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving the goal.

Example Statement and SMART Objective

Broad Statement: I will exercise regularly.

SMART Objective: I will exercise for at least 30 minutes, five days a week, by participating in activities such as a warm-up routine, 12 Surya Namaskar, 5 Asanas, and 10 dips and sit-ups, starting next Monday and continuing for the next three months, gradually increasing the number of repetitions.

Earlier set of statements modified into SMART Objectives:

I will read at least one book per month, choosing a mix of fiction and non-fiction. I will practice the tabla for 30 minutes three times a week. I will complete my homework every day by setting aside one hour after dinner. I will join the school science club. I will volunteer for a local environmental clean-up event within the next four months. I will help my mother with household tasks, such as cleaning the dining table three times a week after meals.

Step Five : Defining Team or Class Resolutions

In the fifth stage of resolution writing, students are encouraged to create class resolutions, fostering a sense of teamwork and collective commitment. Class resolutions help students work together towards shared goals, promoting collaboration and solidarity. This collaborative effort allows individuals to overcome personal limitations, as they are motivated to contribute to the team's success. By understanding each other's strengths and weaknesses, students learn to support one another and build a strong sense of community.

For instance, class resolutions might include commitments such as:

As a class, we will perform a total of 50,000 Surya Namaskars till Rath Saptami by having each student complete a minimum of 100 Surya Namaskars per week,

We will improve the Overall Class Average by 5%,

We will volunteer for traffic control during school opening and closing hours at least twice a week,

We will attend five Indian classical concerts and dramas throughout the year.

Step Six : Teachers' Resolution

During Varsharambha, this phase of resolution writing is for teachers, fosters a culture of continuous improvement and commitment in the school. Teachers can set an example of goal-setting and self-improvement, inspiring students to adopt similar habits. This creates a learning-focused atmosphere, encouraging everyone to strive for excellence. By committing to their own growth, teachers reinforce that education is a lifelong journey. Their resolutions cultivate a school culture dedicated to progress and development.

For example, a teacher might resolve to integrate new technologies into her/his lesson plans, focus on personal health by learning and practicing pranayama, or read at least one educational book per month. Additionally, teachers may choose to enroll in online courses that focus on innovative teaching methods, pedagogical strategies, or subject-specific content.

As a team, the teacher community can also engage in collective resolutions that enhance collaboration and shared learning.

Examples include starting a book reading and review club where teachers can share insights from their readings, planning study tours to innovative experimental schools to observe and implement new teaching methodologies, practicing pair teaching for interdisciplinary learning.

Teachers might also resolve to conduct home visits as class teachers to understand the students' backgrounds better. These collective efforts enrich the school environment and foster a spirit of teamwork and continuous professional development.

Step Seven: Declaring Resolutions on Varsharambha i.e. Resolution Day

The auspicious day of Varsharambha Upasana is celebrated as Resolution Day, where, in a meditative and serene atmosphere, we begin with the chanting of mantras to define the purpose of life and education from the Indian tradition. Through a prayer rooted in scripture, we announce our commitment to the purpose, setting the stage for writing and declaring our resolutions.

In this stage, students are encouraged to publicly declare their resolutions during the Assembly of Varsharambha Upasana, sharing their commitments with elders, teachers, and friends. This public declaration transforms personal resolutions into shared public commitments, enhancing accountability. When resolutions are shared openly, students feel a greater sense of responsibility to achieve them, knowing that their families and peers are aware of their commitments. The support from parents, teachers, and friends can provide encouragement and reminders, facilitating progress toward these goals. By actively engaging in this declaration process, students strengthen their resolve and gain valuable social support.

Displaying resolutions on a notice board at school or on a chart at study place at home reinforces their goals and serves as a constant reminder of their intentions.

Resolutions, or Sankalpa, are crucial for personal growth and achieving goals, as they provide direction, focus, and a commitment to continuous improvement. They transform dreams into actionable steps, allowing individuals to maintain clarity and motivation in their journey toward success.

The story of Murlikant Petkar, portrayed in Chandu Champion, illustrates how a strong resolution enabled him to overcome adversity and achieve Olympic glory.

If you have seen interviews of Paris Olympics medallists, including Olympians like Neeraj Chopra and Manu Bhakar, and Paralympic champions like Pravin Kumar and Navdeep Singh, they often mention, “In the next five years, I will work to Change the colour of my medal.” This statement reflects their determination to achieve their dreams and their commitment to improving their medal's status, demonstrating how a firm Sankalpa can fuel long-term goals.

Their commitment to these resolutions embodies the essence of sustained effort and the drive for excellence. By adopting such a mindset, learners can set meaningful goals, persevere through challenges, and achieve success, making resolutions a vital samskara for holistic development. Resolutions, or Sankalpa, are crucial for personal growth and achieving goals, as they provide direction, focus, and a commitment to continuous improvement. They transform dreams into actionable steps, allowing individuals to maintain clarity and motivation in their journey toward success.

Let’s observe Varsharambha: Sankalp Din for Nurturing a Resolute Mindset.

Prashant Divekar

Jnana Prabodhini, Pune