Ten commandments for 2026

Why Resolutions Fail (and Why Commandments Work)

Most New Year’s resolutions fail not because they lack sincerity, but because they fade from memory. What if, instead of resolutions, we adopted commandments—principles to live by daily, review nightly, and refresh weekly throughout 2026?

Here are ten.

1. Treat my body as a sacred temple.

I will not feed it what I would not bring into a temple. Biology is destiny. What enters my body is irreversible. Bad food is slow poison. I will eat more greens, move toward a primarily plant-based diet, avoid sugar, reduce salt, drink more water, and prioritize sleep over everything else. I will sleep and wake at fixed times. I will not carry worries to bed. If sleep resists, I will scan my body inwardly with attention—until I fall asleep. This way, I will end up either meditating deeply or sleeping.

2. Move every day—without excuse.

I will go beyond yoga and devote 20 minutes each to flexibility, strength, and aerobic movement daily. Consistency beats heroic spurts. I will avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a stretch, because prolonged sitting is the new smoking.

3. Begin each day with self-respect.

Each morning, I will stand in front of a mirror, look into my own eyes, and say: There is no one more important in my life—and no one to whom I owe more love and respect—than you. Today, I will prioritize what I want to become over what I feel like doing now. Posture is how self-love and self-respect manifest in our bodies. I will also ensure that I stand, sit, and walk upright—spine tall, as if lifted by an invisible string.

4. Drop judgment. Grow awareness.

I will not judge or criticize others—though I will continue to judge situations and my responses prudently. When the urge to blame arises, I will ask which insecurity in me seeks cover. I will remember: if I were born into their circumstances, I might live their life. I don’t need to be better than others—only better than who I was yesterday. I will learn from everyone.

5. Listen to acknowledge and validate.

I will not interrupt while listening to others. Interrupting others, even unknowingly, conveys that what I want to say is more important than what I am listening to. So, I will choose to listen with full attention and empathy—to acknowledge and validate, not to dominate or seek approval. By the way, validation is not approval; it is empathic understanding.

6. Choose win-win-win actions.

I will develop my observation muscle and slow my reaction muscle so that my responses are thoughtful rather than knee-jerk. I will ensure that my actions benefit me, the other person, and society’s trust. 

7. Feed the mind daily.

I will read at least 15 pages of a good book every day and reflect on how to live what I learn—not merely admire it.

8. See humans, not tribes.

I will not see people through religion, ethnicity, or language, but through the gifts they bring. My pledge to see myself in others will let my love for myself spill over to every human and animal I meet.

9. Live mindfully and deliberately.

I will treat my attention as a precious form of energy and use my thoughts sparingly. When my mind begins to spiral unnecessarily, I will gently bring my attention back to my breath or to my navel.

I will regularly review my motives, how I use my time and money, and how I behave with others. I will choose my next action based not on impulse, but on my deepest values and long-term goals—and develop the courage to change behaviors that violate them.

I will remember: I do not merely choose my next activity; I choose the person I am agreeing to become.

10. Contribute responsibly.

I will plan my remaining years realistically—so I can make my best contribution while using my gifts wisely.

I will never waste water—closing taps and either finishing my bottle or carrying it—because personal responsibility scales into collective survival.

Read these 10 Commandments every morning. Review every night. Renew every Sunday.

This is just a loving suggestion:

Read these commandments every morning to set your direction, review them every night to stay honest, and revisit them every Sunday to renew your resolve. Character is not built in a year—but it is chosen every day.