By Bruce Holland, Publisher
There is absolutely nothing wrong with making New Year Resolutions. After all, it is a form of goal setting, and rest assured, setting goals for our lives is always a good thing. Striving to be better, whether it be within our families, our places of employment, or as citizens, makes us better people, and the world a better place to be.
However, the Greek philosopher, Epictetus, provided some wise advice around setting resolutions when he said, “Practice yourself, for heaven’s sake, in little things, and thence proceed to greater!”
Often, we will set lofty goals that are either unattainable or that we are just not ready for. That is not to say we should not challenge ourselves to be better. Epictetus also said, “It is difficulties that show us what we are.” I find this brief statement has proven so true throughout my life. Yes, it is always nice to achieve your goals, but what you do when you fall short of them shows who you really are.
The end of one year and the beginning of another is also a good time to evaluate one’s efforts over the past year and to determine where those efforts are best spent. Sometimes we find ourselves spinning our wheels and making no progress in the things we do, and it may be time to re-evaluate the value of those efforts and if they can be used more efficiently and effectively in other areas.
Setting New Year resolutions is admirable and can be a great way to challenge oneself. However, having goals in life and resetting those goals from time to time is even more important. Without goals life can become complacent and perhaps even boring. Challenge yourself to be better each and every day. Make your life and the lives of those around you better by being better, consistently, whether at home with your family, or at work with your colleagues, or in the community with your friends and neighbours. You will feel better, and those around you will be better for it!
Wishing all our Parkview News readers the very best in 2024!
Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash
