This topic is perfect for the New Year. I don’t necessarily believe in creating New Year resolutions because this demonstrates procrastination. Waiting to make changes you think you need to make until the New Year rolls around. It is my opinion, and many of those I read and study, that changes should be made immediately when it is noticed that a change is necessary. There’s no time like the present. However, it so happens that it is a New Year and a resolution at this time may be necessary. So, a New Year resolution it is.
My goal, or resolution if you will, is to work on myself. I have found myself in a situation in which I am facing many challenges in my life. These challenges range from minute to life changing. Although, it feels like more are life changing that minute. To name a few: I’ve transitioned out of the military and now must find a new career, moved to a location I haven’t lived at for three years and must make new friends and settle in, experiencing personal relationship challenges, and etc. I’ve decided that the best course of action to meet my new challenges is to work on myself.
At first, it seems selfish to focus on yourself in order to work on yourself, but the logic works out in the end. As it turns out, when you are at your best, everyone wins along with you. I know that it should go without saying, but working on yourself does not mean ignoring everyone else. I think we will find that as we improve ourselves we will see that our lives will improve as well. Our relationships will improve because we are meeting our own needs and not demanding it from others. In other words, no longer being needy. Friendships will improve because our lives our in order and we can give our friendships the attention they deserve. Our careers will improve because it will be easier focusing on the job at hand rather than the mess that was left in our personal lives. You get my point.
One more thing about this and it comes from the stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. He wrote, “Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” As we work on ourselves, be strict with yourself and live by your virtues, but while you are strict with yourself be forgiving and patient with others. As we already know, you can control yourself, but you cannot and should not try to control others.
