Make New Year’s resolutions
NEW YEAR’S resolutions are a tradition that has become common in modern society. They involve people making promises to do acts of self-improvement in a new year. That must be commended and encouraged.
The tradition dates back many centuries. The Babylonians are said to have made promises to their gods at the start of each year that they would return borrowed objects and pay their debts. The Romans reportedly also began each year by making promises to the god Janus, for whom the month of January is named. In recent times, many Christians prepare for the year ahead by holding cross-over services, praying and making New Year’s resolutions.
But this is not only a practice by the religiously oriented. People from all walks of life tend to make resolutions when a new year begins. Why is that the case? First, I believe it has to do with man’s quest for self-improvement. Beneath that quest lies an expectant attitude, one that says tomorrow will turn out better. As the year begins, I would like to encourage you in your resolutions, to encourage you to adopt and maintain an expectant attitude that things will be better this year.
It is when you are expecting to lose weight – one of the most popular New Year’s resolutions – that you will lose weight. But it does not end with just having an expectant attitude; your actions must match your resolution. Go to the gym and eat well, not as a January fad, but as a lifestyle.
The reason we sometimes don’t implement our resolutions is that we focus on the big goal and that can overwhelm us into inaction. Break your goal into smaller objectives and celebrate small victories. Before you know it, you will be well on your way to achieving your bigger goal.
Others might have the resolution to improve their finances, get out of debt and save money. That is a good resolution and one we should encourage all South Africans to make. According to a report issued by the World Bank in 2014, South Africans were the biggest borrowers in the world.
There are many debt counsellors in our country today who can help you tackle this resolution. Again, the total debt may overwhelm you, but if you focus on each creditor for a time period, you can over a period dent your overall debt.
For students, your resolution this year might be to improve your grades, learn something new, study more and improve your skills. Go for it. Take action that will see you achieving your resolution. There is no magic bullet other than doing the basics right: attend classes faithfully, pay attention to what is going on in class, do your homework faithfully; if you are battling, get help from your teachers as soon as possible and study for your tests and exams well in advance. Listening to high-achieving Independent Examination Board matriculates being interviewed on radio last week, the above was their formula and it applies to all grades.
Whatever the resolutions at a personal level – be it becoming more spiritual and getting closer to God, improving your career or volunteering to help others – have a plan, reduce your goal into manageable chunks and maintain an expectant attitude. Critically, do not allow last year’s setbacks and hurts to determine this year. If someone hurt you last year, forgive and move on. The harm was their fault but allowing it to impact on your mood today is yours.
The above is as true for the individual as it is for us as a nation. We have to collectively make new resolutions to do better in 2016 than we did in 2015. We had our challenges as a nation last year, but it’s not beyond us to improve where we have underperformed and let down citizens.
Leaders in government, the departments they lead, public servants and agencies of government must, as the year begins, re-commit to serving the nation better. There were times when we were doing well as a country – when we all had the sense to build a new nation with equal opportunity for all. There was a time when we were prudent with public finances.
There was a time when we were winning against corruption and crime. Let us not forget what we did right then and let us resolve to do even better this year and as we move forward.
If a nation’s quest to do better dies, then that nation deserves the future it will get. I am positive that this year will be better for South Africa than last year was. Let us have great expectations and work together to ensure it is. Wishing you and our country a blessed and prosperous 2016!