So 2017 is coming to a close and the New Year is on its way in.
You’ve probably noticed social media is filled with laments of how bad last year “sucked,” seen various lists of personal achievements and failures, and read endless advertisements for programs that will help you succeed—whatever that might look like—in 2018.
Regardless of the reasons why, we are generally ambitious to leave behind the old year we know and usher in the New Year we can’t fathom.
So my encouragement for the New Year is going to be simple: Strive to approximate your perspective to reality—particularly that which is true, good, and beautiful.
These three simple steps will help toward that end.
- Recount your blessings and rejoice in the grace of God.
- Turn away from thoughts and behaviors that diminish God’s glory and/or human dignity and virtue.
- And, finally, while you are loving God with all your heart, mind and soul—and loving your neighbor as you would want to be loved—revive your passion to pursue that work which is most meaningful and importatant to you—even if it’s significantly ordinary in someone else’s opinion.
St. Augustine wisely told us,
“Once for all, then, a short precept is given thee: Love, and do what thou wilt: whether thou hold thy peace, through love hold thy peace; whether thou cry out, through love cry out; whether thou correct, through love correct; whether thou spare, through love do thou spare: let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.”