Advice to Self - No New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year, friends, and blessings to you!

New Year's Resolutions, anyone? I haven't done resolutions for years…decades. Not that I don't want to do better, I do. It's a question of how.

How about just taking some time to reflect on how life really works? Can we make our lives better?

Most of us know resolutions don't often work out, as is commonly joked about. Like working out…or diets…or a new resolve to make yourself better and do some things you've been putting off for years. So, what should we do?

Start with this. Ask God how you can love Him more. And ask what it means to “love your neighbor as yourself"? After all, Jesus said these are the two great commandments. 

Good thing that only you and God know everything about you - be thankful for that! 

You might think that you are easy to love, or even likable, or maybe you are old enough to know better. Some people are really far too easy on themselves while being overly harsh with others. Others are way too hard on themselves and don't hold others accountable.

Here are some thoughts to consider.

• Be a little harder on yourself, but go easy on others. When you feel a need to correct someone - STOP! Think about it, whether it really needs to be said. Would you welcome the same correction?
• Also, go easy on yourself, when it is needful to do so. Allow yourself some slack, as long as it doesn't hurt others or yourself. Think about what you are doing. Be aware, be conscious, be alive.
• Give yourself a break - don't be so hard on yourself. Don't get down on yourself, but consider ways to do things better.

Does that sound like double-talk? It may be, but it can make sense, too. Here is some of the point I am trying to make…

• Don't be so focused on yourself. Consider others. What do they need? What can you do to help? Which leads to…
• Be more kind, in little ways. Look for ways to be kind and nice to others. You don't know what others have been through in their life.
• Be less selfish. You might find it is much more fulfilling. It certainly starts fewer arguments.
• Be more giving. Find ways to give, and see if it doesn't bring some joy to others.

Not too hard. No big pronouncements here. Just some simple thoughts to try to make life a little better. We're all in this together.

“…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2.12-13

Add on: 

“Take care.” I awoke during the night after this was published, and had this thought. This is exactly what we really need to do - “take care" of ourselves, along with taking care of each other. This simple phrase is used when departing from someone, as a sort of blessing. Next time you speak it to someone, think about it, for them and yourself.