“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘ If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.”
-Steve Jobs
As we enter the last month of the year the normal tendency is to reflect upon the past and contemplate over the future. New Year resolutions are suddenly in vogue. A perception full of new optimism becomes the prescription pill for so many. Of course as the months go by it becomes a daunting task to live up to one’s own aspirations, expectations, challenges and goals – all part of the freshly made resolutions. No guarantees on whether these would last or fade with the passing months – maybe to replicate and recur in the next calendar year. A cyclic feature. Here’s a sleeves-up to my start to 2016, hopefully making is a shade sassier and simpler to follow:
The challenge – can be multiple in terms of profession, family life, health and fitness.
The battle plan – While it is not easy to do the tight rope walking balancing home, work and family and at the same time focussing on the physical and mental wellbeing of one’s self, it is not difficult either with a little bit of planning, flexibility, going easy on one’s own self, developing some immunity towards the daily stresses and trying to strive less towards perfections to enjoy, adjust, adapt and cope with the offerings of life.
Take-home inspiration – Doing what one believes in, makes life worthwhile. Never say die attitude is an elixir proven to work wonders for one and all. Holding on to faith and power of anything or anybody can change the meaning of life. Divine intervention through spirituality can be a big shock absorber for many.
Philosophy can have dual impact when coupled with Psychology. Any change within requires a thought and behaviour modification. A conscious attempt to magnify the focus on the present and minimize the past and future, is a sure shot way to happiness and success.
Indulging in ‘whatever’ makes one happy is the solution to any problem at any given time. Again, not doing anything at all to travelling, pursuing one’s hobbies and enjoying the nitty-gritty and the smalls of life can be extremely self- healing and therapeutic.
How about making the upcoming year a year of heightened self-awareness? Learn to release regret and forgive others and ourselves by believing in changes. If you resist it, it will be tough to survive. Go with it, not against it. Open up your heart. Learn to trust and love people around you. Abraham Lincoln said it right: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
So, smile ear to ear for the new year is near, dispelling all your fears and tears, dear!!