Taking Stock
As 2021 winds down, we naturally turn to the new year, wondering what it may hold for us.
But the more important question is, “What do we hold for the new year?” Because the truth is that to a very large extent, the new year will give us what we give it. Sure, stuff will come at us out of the blue, and we will be blindsided from time to time. But mostly, life gives us what we have made ourselves ready for.
If I am in studies, and I choose to slack off and produce mediocre results, I should not be surprised if I am not on the Dean’s List. If I am in a relationship and don’t cultivate it, I should ot be surprised if it dies during the year.
On the other hand, if I pay attention to my business, or my health, or my relationship with my son or daughter, I should not be surprised if in 2022 those things get stronger and healthier. We do, after all, reap what we sow.
It makes good sense, therefore, as we move from 2021 to 2022, to take stock of the health of our lives, our relationships, our professions, our finances, but mostly, the health of ourselves.
We only get one body, one spirit, one mind, to last us a lifetime, and we don’t want any one to outlast the others. Many of us keep our bodies in tip-top shape, but ignore our souls, or we may cultivate our minds, but never get out of the easy chair. We need to work on the whole of us.
When we take stock of ourselves, we must start with our very own health, because without that, nothing else matters. And health is not just cardiovascular health, or core body strength, or flexibility, but also the health of our minds and our spirits.
Are our bodies ready for 2022? Are our spirits strong and resilient? Are we harbouring bad habits or dark thoughts? Are we challenged in our thinking?
These are the questions we need to ask ourselves as we wind down 2021 and face 2022. These questions are the starting point for serious, practical, useful New Year’s Resolutions.
2022 will present you with amazing opportunities, but you need to be ready for them.