31 December 2019 — Endings/Beginnings

We make a big thing about the ending of one year and the beginning of another. We see it as a reason to change and feel that our lives will be different in the New Year from the old one. We make New Year’s Resolutions to change our behaviour and to react in a new way to circumstances in the New Year.

BUT IS IT REALLY gonna be different? I often wonder if the habit pattern of feeling the New New will bring NEW THINGS INTO OUR LIVES is merely a way of making it seem important and providing an excuse to celebrate it and drink too much.

How many of us do indeed change and keep to our New Year Resolutions? I think perhaps it would be more fruitful if we approached the New Year reflecting upon what has happened in the past year, what we feel was good and not so good. And I find it is helpful to reflect upon the occasions and the things which happened which stand out in our minds — those which make us feel both good and not so good. To reflect upon what dreams we had a year ago and hoped would be realised in the next 12 months and compare it with what actually happened. And whilst in this reflective mood, to contemplate on what we would truly like to happen in the next year and where we would like to be in a year’s time. And then further reflect on how we can bring this about. What behaviour do we believe would be conducive to making our dreams come true? What behaviour do we believe would be preventative to making them come true?

PONDER POINTS — Where would we like to be this time next year? What would we like to have happened in the year to come? What do we feel we really need to change in our lives? How can we bring about this change?

IN WHAT WAYS DO WE FEEL WE HAVE CHANGED IN 2019? IN WHAT WAYS DO WE FEEL WE HAVE CHANGED FOR THE BETTER IN 2019?