Human beings, like all other beings in nature, are beings tied to the solar system. If the concept of time is derived from the existence of day and light every now and then, it is proper for us to conclude that we are beings of time. It is this time that we have quantified in days, weeks, and years and have been through historical events qualified by terms like BCE, CE, BC, and AD.
Human beings in quantifying time have instituted calendars and invented clocks. Through name-calling, they have identified some TIME as past, the other as present, and the yet to be, as new or the future. In essence, however, TIME is never new nor old. It is what is done in it, which is either new or old. So as you usher in what you call the New Year, I want you to understand that Time is never new nor old, it is what will happen or be done differently that will be either new or old.
The so-called calendar New Year, is as delusional as borders of countries. I have been traveling through East-Africa, by bus, and whenever I reach these so-called borders, I do not see any particular natural feature that signifies boundary markers. All I see are iron bars and men in uniforms directing me to the offices of immigration. Now we all know, these are socio-political constructs. This is the very thing with the so-called New Year. The New Year is not a reality but a fantasy. The only new thing in any year is what you do or not do, where you are and where you are not. Whom you are with, and those you disassociate with. It does not matter how many birthdays you celebrate, as long as nothing changes physiologically and psychologically, time is time. It is never new and never old if we resolve and make resolutions that will make it new. It is our resolutions that make time a different time or new time, as we are accustomed to call it.
The Tradition of New Year’s Resolutions traces its history in the ancient religious systems. The difference is that these were not called resolutions but promises. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, Babylonians made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named.
At night services, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by praying and making these resolutions. New Year’s resolution are promises we make to ourselves about the things we want to change, do better and sometimes quit. The problem with promises, however, is that they are easier to make than to keep. The reason for this failure of our resolutions is that we always do not give good grounds for our expectations.
In Ancient Roman religion and mythology, Janus is the god of beginnings and transitions. This god Janus is usually a two-faced god, one face looks at the past and the other face looks at the future. Romans wanted to communicate that, new beginnings must reference the past if they are to make sense.
New Year is about two things: first is being honest with your past and present and learning from it and secondly, pointing to the future and saying that is where I want to go and this is who I want to be.
As we begin to make New Year’s resolution here are a few things we need to consider:
Identity: Do a self-evaluation and discover the kind of person you are. Be honest with yourself. Look at your personal strengths and weaknesses. Congratulate yourself on the things you have achieved and done right in the past 365 days and blame yourself and hold yourself accountable for the things you have failed. Do not point fingers at anyone. Your marriage or relationship failed because of you, not your spouse/partner, your business failed not because of workers but you, you have been unemployed throughout the year not because of the government but you, you did not study not because of money but you.
You have failed to overcome your addiction, smoking, alcohol, sex, masturbation, etc not because of any other thing but you. You are in debts not because people did not pay you but you. Now, here is another opportunity called 2017. This is your time to do things differently, to change what you want to change, and improve what needs to. All you need to do is to promise yourself and not any other person. Do not resolve to do things depending on the ‘IFs’. I hear people making dependent resolutions, I will do this IF, I will change IF, etc. it is your life, decide to do things the way you want them to be done regardless of the status quo. Do not have a flock mentality. You are not going where everyone else is going. Do not compare or even compete with anyone, but rather complement others and make other people’s lives better.
Let me tell you how to develop effective resolutions. The first rule is the one I have already discussed. Success begins with one fundamental rule that says:
- KNOW THYSELF. Know who you are and what you personally want, not your family, friends, governments, etc. defy rules, traditions, and norms but not the principle. Once you get your identity right, you will be default motivated in the right direction; you will have the right will power and exercise proper self-control. After-all, you cannot control the ‘self’ you do not know.
- CLARITY ABOUT PRIORITIES: Many people understand priorities in terms of time, (what comes first and what next), however, priorities are about value and not timing. You are not in a race, do not fight to beat time, instead, struggle to do the right thing. The reality is, in success, there is nothing like the right time to succeed. Success is about doing the right thing in whichever time. So, do not be under pressure because people of your age are driving, have built houses, and have accomplished all sorts of things, stick to the plan (if you have one) and do the right thing. You have personal individual priorities, do not change or edit them because of what is happening in the lives of others. Priorities are not about what comes first but what matters the most. Have this clarity as you are making next year’s resolutions.
- BALANCE OPTIMISM WITH REALITY: We live in painful and frustrating times. Psychologically hurting that modern thinkers both in the secular and religious circles have developed optimism and positivity as a solution to existing pain. Wherever you go, you will be told to be optimistic and to think positive. In fact, it is the modern gossip in churches by pastors. Many people are going to flock stadiums on the 31st-December purposely for miracles, just like they do every Sunday. They will spend the night there, just to come home on the 1st-January to find the same bills, same spouses, same family issues and same job wrangles. Am not being a pessimist here, all am saying is that we need to balance optimism with reality as we make resolutions for the next 365 days. It is okay to have faith but your faith must be rational. Set realistic and sensible goals. Dreaming big is good, but it is just ‘dreaming’. So instead of setting goals, set small goals and facilitate those to realize small continuous wins. The reason why people make resolutions each year and fail is because these resolutions come from hyper-optimism and they are too difficult, too many, and too vague. Therefore, your resolutions must be: Simple not difficult, they must be Specific not many and they must be Strategic not vague. Do not have more faith in yourself more than God has in you. Accept the reality and face the facts, then learn how to maneuver through.
Always remember, like my friend Kate has put it: you do not need a new year to make a new resolution. You have to know where flexibility is a necessity and where firmness is required. A New Year is another opportunity redefine and redesign four things that I personally call the 4Ps. You have before you 365 days to:
- Redefine and Redesign your Person. Who you are, and who you want to be in the realm of the two fundamental sociologies. Your spiritual life and your social life. The kind of person you are spiritually and the kind of person you are around other people.
- Redefine and Redesign your Past: Make peace with your past. Learn from the past mistakes and refresh celebrations for the past victories. Throw yourself a party and a thanksgiving for the achievements of the last 365 days. You cannot begin from nowhere, respect your past experiences and learn from them.
- Redefine and Redesign your Purpose: Many people are born and die without serving their own purpose but serving the purposes of others. They are career-guide and influenced into the callings of others at the expense of what God has designed them to do. Know your purpose and serve it. Do not do things for money, but for fulfillment. There is a difference between being trained academically or vocationally into something, and being talented and called to do the very thing. The world will always tell the difference in production. If you want to have joy in the next 365days, please do your purpose. Let your resolutions be aligned to that purpose.
- Redesign and Redefine your Priorities: I have discussed this already. Always know, it is not about time, but about what is Important as opposed to what is urgent. Look at things in their value sense, not in terms of time. Do not rush, after all you do not know when you will die, so don’t run after passing time. 365 days will expire, make sure you do not expire with them. Do not involve yourself in the struggle to finish. Always remember that life is not a product but a process. Do not be troubled by a new year, for the eternal God who is not limited by time is already in the next year and he has said: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 NKJ)
God bless you. I invoke TRUTH, Knowledge and FAITH. Am Pastor Isaiah White @Think & Become (Inspirational Link) and a Minister at iTiS Well of Worship Ministries
iTiS Well of Worship Fellowship (John 4:24) 