REACHING FOR THE STARS
In the words of Lichtenberg, ‘The worst thing you can possibly do is to worry about what you could have done. The New Year thus offers a great opportunity to strive to achieve our own personal goals and ambitions. In order to achieve this, there are certain principles that could help us along the way.
Individuality
Conforming is always a great feeling. Doing what others are doing in order to be accepted. We often put our ambitions aside to enable others to fulfil their own. At the end of the day, we are challenged when taking stock of what we have achieved for ourselves. In this New Year, we need to give ourselves some ‘me’ time, in order to fulfil our own personal promises. As Richard Wilkins says ‘Others may press your buttons but it is up to you what comes up on the screen’. So do determine, so that the image of Christ living in you comes out.Self- Esteem
‘When it is dark enough, you can see the stars’ Ralph Waldo Emerson. Perhaps things have not been so glossy in the recent past. We have been faced with challenges that we did not envision, and now all of a sudden we must pick up the pieces and start again. Do share your concerns with people that love you and that you love. Talk through problems with them. Let them help you. Most importantly, look to the future, forget the past. Remember, as Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. ‘Jesus came that you may live life to the fullest, do ENJOY life.
Joy
Stress, Stress, Stress, is a word we often like to use both consciously and unconsciously. For some it is their mantra. As Anne Frank stated ‘whoever is happy will make others happy too.’ We must focus on the problems that we can solve and take one step at a time. For each day is a gift, each person we meet, an opportunity to make a friend, each smile we give, a chance to brighten someone’s day. We should balance school, work and family and always have in sight what is most important to us. ‘The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.’ Stephen R. Covey. May Jesus be part of your main thing!Equality
We are created in the image and likeness of God. That is quite a tall order to maintain. But, perhaps we can start by taking little steps, throughout the year. By shedding off things that hold us back from loving others freely. In the words of Charles Mingus, ‘making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creative. Do shed off hierarchy, status symbols, dress codes ... that put divisions amongst us and strain us from embracing all. Jesus came, for the sinners and the righteous alike. Do not be the first to throw the stone.Dialogue
Shouting is so much easier than sitting down to have a chat. Dialogue forces us to not only think before we speak but to listen to the opinions of others, because perhaps they may be right. ‘A torn jacket is soon mended; but hard words bruise the heart of a child,’ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Ensure that what you say does not lead to misunderstanding. Always look for an option that will make it a win-win situation for all. Remember that you have choices and in following the example of Jesus before Pilate, ‘Saying less is more’. May you have a fulfilling year!Beatrice Kizi
