Happy New Year. Now what? The start of 2019 is an opportunity to review your life and set some goals for a positive, fruitful year of existence. What are some guiding principles that can help you in this personal New Year examination?
A lot of attention has been directed to “blue zones”—places in the world where people enjoy longer and healthier lives than anywhere else on earth. The beneficiaries of these places share certain common traits. They all take part in regular physical activity, avoid smoking and limit drinking, eat moderately of a diet largely vegetarian in nature, stay connected to family members and social groups, and maintain both a clear purpose for living and a strong connection to God. Perhaps your personal New Year’s self-examination would evaluate how you’re doing in each of those categories.
Other studies have focused more on the psychological traits of a healthy and happy life. This research has found that the most important qualities to have in one’s life include three things: meaning, mastery and autonomy. We all need to feel that there is meaning associated with the things we do each day. We also benefit from the ongoing acquisition of new skills and mastery of tasks. And our capacity to navigate adversity is directly tied to our ability to be autonomous—to make choices and decisions about how we live our lives. This type of New Year’s self-examination would ponder whether our lives have meaning, whether we feel in control of our daily choices, and whether we are truly “lifelong learners.”
From the perspective of faith, there are slightly different questions we should ask ourselves: Whom do I trust completely? What do I hope for deeply? And where do I most often find love and joy in my life today? Similar to the other two models, a living faith is based on a sense of trust—believing that this world is held in God’s hands and we are partners with the Lord in the ongoing work of being agents of change and compassion. The New Year gives us the chance to awaken each day and affirm this good news by saying the short prayer, “Lord, I trust you know my needs even before I do. Walk beside me and before me as I rise to face this day.”
A living faith is also honest about what we hope and what we fear. The Easter wonder of Christ’s resurrection and the scripture’s promise of a time when we shall dwell in peace and harmony give us assurance about what is to come. Consider taking time in the middle of the day to pray, “Lord, there is much I don’t fully understand and too often I don’t feel up to the tasks before me. Reassure me now through your love and grace that in time all will be well.”
Lastly, a living faith sees the glass as half-full, optimistic that there is something each day to celebrate and in which we can take pleasure. As we lie down at night, perhaps our evening prayer can be one of gratitude saying, “Lord, thank you for the moments of wonder and joy in the day just past. Every smile, every chuckle, every embrace was a blessing. May tomorrow have even more of the same!” Think on these things and have a happy New Year!
—Randy Bush