One of the things I do at the start of the year is to think back on the right and wrong things I did the past year. Because I think it’s logical that we will do better if we recognize not only the right things we did, but also the wrong things — so that we can rectify our mistakes, and avoid making the same ones.
There are watershed years. There are years of quiet and rest. There are years of recovery and recalibration. There are years of frenetic change, required adjustments (not necessarily resilience). There are years of dilemma and desperation.
But then, there are also years of unbelievable, unbridled, unstoppable success.
I pray you will find these rectifications or resolutions advantageous for the coming year, so that we’ll all have, hopefully, a year of unbridled success ahead:
— Be more proactive in giving people encouragement, deserved acknowledgement and praise — because the world is chronically stingy when it comes to complimenting others. It’s like a contagion, actually. Think about it — what in the world will you lose if you praised someone for a job well done? Or simply for looking good? You could actually propel others to look better, or do even greater things.
— Express gratitude in tangible ways — we often forget the people who helped bring us to the good place we’re in today. So I’m going to be more intentional this year about giving gifts, helping out, or doing thoughtful things for the people in my life who helped me succeed. Kind souls who led me to achieve what I wouldn’t have been able to do by myself. Of course God is the Source of every good and perfect gift. But He uses people who are unselfish and willing to be His instruments.
— Apologize right away when I’m wrong or did something that hurt others (deliberately or not) — this is actually for our own good. Keep short accounts with everyone. It brings peace of mind; it can restore relationships.
— Be more discriminating about what I read, watch, places I go to, people I spend time with — we know this saying is true: “Garbage in, garbage out.”
— Think well of others, but when proven wrong, be on your guard — this is always a good, solid boundary that will protect us for a lifetime.
— Curb my selfishness — it’s a built-in, natural propensity that we need to keep in check. Some of my friends are definitely much less selfish than me, so I want to imitate them.
— Live with integrity — I’m learning this especially from one of our daughters who refused to be part of an anomalous practice. She resigned when her bosses didn’t accept her suggestions to do the right thing. Remember: you are safe if you’re with people who have integrity. But you’re always in danger when you’re with dishonest, two-faced people who have no conscience. They’ll drag you down with them.
There are so many more things that I’d like to add to this list but if I make it too long, maybe you won’t finish reading it. So let’s end with the number 7. God’s perfect number.
A recalibrated, refurbished, and refreshing 2025 to all of us.
