Ending a Year Well
So a few years back was a really hard year for me. We sold our house, the first real home I’d ever lived in. Spent 5 months in uncertainty as to where our new house would be. And lived in a rental that was less than optimal. Oh...and in the process of trying to build a new house, there were so many unknown things and changes...my ISTJ personality did not cope well. I was emotional, ungrateful, and not overly loving to my amazing husband.
So I decided that’s all going to stay in 2019. It definitely was not coming with me into 2020. Now, I know some of these situations may follow me, and new stressful ones will definitely happen. What wasn’t going to follow me is the not-so-great person I’d been that year. So how didI plan on accomplishing that? I’m going to start with these 5 tips:
Go ahead, look back. Say it with me and Socrates: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” … Looking back at a year, or season in our life is good. Acknowledging the times we were not great people and remembering the blessings that came without us even asking. For the not great times, were there external circumstances that brought that out in us? If so, what can I do to avoid those in the future? Or was it just me being a sh!!y person? If this, then find tools to put in place to stop us from going there...
Highlight the successes. Though looking for ways to improve is a good thing, there is nothing wrong with giving ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done . What went well this year? What blessings did you receive? Were you able to reach any of your goals? Writing these things down & keeping them where they are easy to remember is how I limit my time as a not-so-great person. Sticky notes on a mirror, images on a phone screen, pictures on the wall from a vacation...these are all ways to keep the positive at the front of our minds.
Forgive yourself. I think this is harder than forgiving others. And it’s where Satan wants us to live, under condemnation. If I am forgiven by God, who am I to keep remembering all the crap I did? If just reminding yourself that your forgiven doesn’t work, burn that junk! Seriously...write down the thing you did, and burn it!
Give thanks. Gratitude is definitely something I struggle with. My mind automatically goes to the bad things that have happened. I’m trying to figure out ways to get better at this...none seem to be working yet. But my husband is a great resource for reminding me. He finds it easier to live with a heart of gratitude, so when I get into my funk of “the sky is falling” he’s there to show me the blessings that have been poured out, that cover the negatives.
Celebrate! Did you overcome an obstacle? Did you reach a huge goal that everyone said was too big? Or did you just make it to the end of the year a little better than you started? No matter how big or small, celebrate! You’re alive! You’re breathing! Even if your health isn’t great, or your money troubles seem to be multiplying daily...find a reason to celebrate today.
So that’s what I did…I worked my way through all of those HARD things, and here I am, 4 years later, coming to the end of another year…but guess what? We still have a lot of unknowns coming at us, they are just different than they were 4 years ago. But I am not letting it disturb my peace. I am resting in His arms, knowing that He will show us the next steps when we need to see them. God is never late & His timing is not ours.