I’m writing this article on New Year’s Eve, 2024. As is true of most people, I’m giving some thought to New Year’s Resolutions. And, as is true of most people, I’m not making any resolutions. Why not? Well, to keep with the theme…as is true of most people I don’t keep them. Good intentions aren’t enough. There has to be sound reason and commitment to follow through. Most people don’t have all of the above.

However, I do have a New Year’s challenge for you. No, I’m not asking for a new you. I’m not asking you to focus on those things that are problem areas that need some attention and perhaps change. I want to suggest a new way to look at New Year’s Resolutions. As I have suggested to lots of clients, how about if we take Philippians 4.8 as our guide for the New Year? This verse says: “Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” (NASB)

Here’s what I’m asking you to do this New Year: How about if we look, not at problem areas, but the areas of our lives that are strong; Areas that are successful and worth giving our attention to? Once we get our focus here then let’s make it our resolution to make them even better. As an example, let’s say that you are good at spending time with your children. In our culture this is a missing element in way too many homes. So, good for you! Now, how can you be better? Adding a date night with your daughter? Teaching some handiwork or hunting skills to sons and daughters? Giving extra time to the sons who are growing up so fast so that you can extend to them a better understanding of what it means to be a godly man?

You see, resolutions are generally about changing what is wrong with us. Sometimes that is needed…if only we would follow through with those needed improvements! I’m telling you that I can see a much higher success rate if we grab hold of what is already good and work to make it better. I believe that is what the Apostle Paul meant when he said to “dwell on these things“. Don’t just think about them in passing. Work on them! Your spouse and children are worth the effort! Your neighbors and co-workers will see the better you!

Note: this is not about self-aggrandizement. Romans 12.3 tells us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Working on ourselves in the New Year isn’t about getting an over-inflated ego. When we’re the best we can be then we benefit as well as others around us. This is the overall theme of my new book Becoming An Inviting Target: Steps You Can Take to Make Yourself More Loveable, coming out next month.

Give this some thought. You might want to exchange ideas with your spouse. What areas are good that could be better? If I can be of any help in the process, you can contact me via the information below. Life Coaching is a great way to move ahead to achieve those goals that are important to us!

Chuck Phillips, Licensed Christian Pastoral Counselor, N.C.C.A. Board Certified Advanced Christian Life Coach, I.B.C.C.

LifeChoicesCLC.Com LifeChoicesCLC@gmail.com 573-280-5093