Resolution is a determined effort. I am going to do something and I'm going to keep doing it. Now the strongest way that we can keep to a resolution is to know the Dukkha that comes from not keeping that resolution. Why is it that people make resolutions? There are a lot of people who have been doing something that isn't skillful in their life. For many of you, you've had the resolution to stop alcohol or drugs and so on. Why is it you stopped? Because you decided that was not healthy for you, you don't want it anymore. Because you saw Dukkha involved in a past action, it was easy to make a resolution.
A person who stops smoking does it because they realize that smoking is not good for them, not healthy. So in order to make a strong resolution, it helps to see the pain that comes when you don't keep to the resolution, because after all, do you want to keep your pain? We are trying to teach you ways of opening your compassion to yourself and others so that you will decide for yourself you don't want to create pain anymore. When this compassion gets strong enough, it'll be easier for you to make resolutions and keep to them.