With the end of one year
comes the beginning of a new year. And, with the beginning of a new year comes that
long list of resolutions- many of which that are sparked by guilt.
After indulging in those delicious holiday
foods and lounging around in food comas for hours on end, we decide to hit the
gym and live healthier lives. After spending endless amounts of money on the
perfect gifts for our loved ones, we decide to save more and spend less. The
list of such resolutions goes on, but in the end, the truth is they do not
last.
We all know the battle; making resolutions and
fighting to keep them. And we all know the outcome; a loss of our willpower to
keep fighting and resuming back to our "normal" lives instead.
We feel all this pressure to make resolutions
just because the first day of the new year is right around the corner. It is
understandable to view the first day of the new year as a clean slate. Speaking
from a spiritual perspective, however, we receive clean slates with every
rising sun. God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23).
With this in mind, the only resolution I have
for the upcoming year is a challenge I want you all to consider taking: make
everyday your January 1.
There is nothing special about this day like
the world makes it out to be. Every day is an opportunity to make resolutions
and pursue them. When you have a goal in mind, do not put it on hold until the
first of the year. Your time in this world is not guaranteed, so start living
now.
Be present for the
day ahead of you when you crawl out of bed. Live with an intention that is
determined by where you are now, what your heart desires now,
what your body needs now, and what those you love need now. Treat
January 1 and the 364 days that follow it with the same hope and sense of
renewal.
Here are a few ways to help you focus on living in the
present:
Keep your awareness fully centered on the here
and the now. When you live in the
present, you are accepting life as it is now rather than focusing on what it
could have been or what it will be. Do not allow yourself to live in an
illusion. When you do this, you surrender your power to create. Focus on who
you are, where you are, and the changes you want to make today.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for
tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34 NIV)
If you worry about what might be, and wonder what might have been, you will ignore what is. -Unknown
Breathe. Close
your eyes and take three deep breaths, right now.
Focusing on our breathing brings us back into
reality, the place in which we should always dwell. By getting into the
practice of breathing, you can build a relationship between your mind and
reality that will further help you to savor the moment.
God used His very breath to give you life. Use
your time of breathing to reflect on your Creator.
The Spirit of God has made
me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. (Job 33:4 NIV)
Follow your passion. There is nothing better than that feeling of being
completely engrossed in what you are doing. When you do what you love, you love
what you do and you become completely present as a result. Hold on to this
feeling you get and learn how to incorporate it into your everyday life.
Nothing has happened in the past; it happened in the Now. Nothing will ever happen in the future; it will happen in the Now. -Eckhart Tolle
Surrender to knowing nothing. When we live with the mentality that we know everything, we are
sure to be proven wrong. There is a Greater Power that lives within
us all. Make the humble act of surrendering this truth to the Power within you
and let the One who knows all be your guide.
Cleanse, clear, and release. We tend to hold on to many things that should have been let go
of a long time ago. Maybe it is a grudge, pain, a lost love, or the deep
sadness associated with living a life focused on the "what could have
been." Whatever it is, it is important that you give it to God and ask Him
for the strength to let go and move forward. The things that we should have
already let go of fill our hearts with nothing but an empty, stabbing pain. Let
the Lord fill your heart with His goodness and love as you seek the abundance
of true life you have been missing out on.
The thief comes only to
steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to
the full. (John 10:10)
Each day serves as an
opportunity for a fresh start, a new beginning, and a chance to create a great
day. When you wake up in the morning, focus on where you stand instead of where
you desire to one day be. The art of now is a beautiful thing. Do not miss out
on it.
Blessings on the New Year that lies ahead of you.
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