We celebrate the end of a year and the beginning of a new one. We can use this as an opportunity to take stock for what is working in our lives, and what it not. There is a simple psychological maxim, “When you find something that works for you, do more of that!” And obviously its opposite, “When something doesn’t work, do less of it! Reflection and analysis are essential to creating better models of what works, and this is a good time for doing both.
It is also a time for celebrating what has worked–what we have done well. Many of us do not take time to feel good about what we have accomplished–so often we are focused on our mistakes. The gives too much weight to the negative. While reflection is good, it should be done with the idea of learning from our experience. Obsessing on the negative only gives wrongheaded patterns power. Learn from your experiences, make amends where possible, and move on in a positive way. Do not make a fetish of focusing on wrong actions, and learn to feel good about what you have done well—then do more of that!
Looking forward to the future, do not project a bad year onto the new one. You have a blank canvas upon which to paint, an empty book with fresh pages to write upon. Sri Yukteswarji said that God creates this universe; he did not say God created, but God creates. You are co-creating your life with God. You are in a constant state of becoming, and each moment holds the potential for all eternity in it.
Sense this potential of the moment–God is in you, and you are in God. With that awareness a vast field of potential comes alive in you, so do not sell yourself short. Feel that God is coming alive in you and that you do not know all that you can be. So, each day is a discovery for what God wants for you. It is an exciting time to be alive, no matter your circumstances, because you are truly made in the likeness and image of God. A very happy New Year to you!
Health Update: On Friday I had an examination by my dermatologist and on Saturday I had a CT scan and an MRI (no PET scan is scheduled from here on out, and I have been extended to six month checkups from the previous four month exams). Today I received my results online from My Chart. All scans were normal showing no problems. This December marks three years since I was first diagnosed and had a small intestine resection. April will be three years since the liver resection and since that time there has been only clear scans and my health has been excellent. The dermatologist did burn off a suspicious something on the skin and sent it in for a biopsy, which he said did not concern him. So, good news for a great new year!