The first UU principle says:

We respect the inherent worth and dignity of every person.

My first reaction, the first time I heard it, was to say to myself, Well, of course. No problem. OK, what's the next principle?

Hold on, there, Nellie. Not so fast. Respecting the worth and dignity, the inherent worth and dignity of every person ain't that easy. Easy to rattle off the tongue, but in practice? Not so much.

Consider all those critical, evaluative, judgmental thoughts that cross my mind every day. How many of them are based on a desire to understand and help--and how many are just negative criticism? And dismissive.

How many times I have (mentally) called someone an idiot or jackass because they have done something of which I disapprove? To be more general, how often I've criticized the person, not the specific action. And what right do I have to criticize someone else, in the first place? When their behaviors impact my well-being?

I'm trying to become the person I've always wanted to be, and to that end I'm attempting to formulate a resolution for the new year that will address this issue (after all, some day I'd like to get to the second principle!).

If I just re-affirm the first principle as my new year resolution, I'll keep on doing what I've been doing.

How do I formulate a resolution I can work on? Something more specific, with a target goal....

p.s. Happy New Year, in New Zealand!