How often in your lifetime do you suppose you’ve heard or read the phrase “end-of-year”? There are always end-of-year sales during which everyone hopes to find great bargains from after Christmas items to end of the season garments. Stores are always looking to grab your attention with these phrases and sales in the hopes of drawing you into the store, or onto their website, so you can buy, buy buy! I’ve worked retail a good part of my early life, so I’ve seen this firsthand.

I want to use the end-of-year emphasis, too, but with a different focus. I want to encourage you to face some hard realities now that we’re looking at another year passing away and a new one about to begin. It is always healthy to take a little time to practice some reflection, maybe even some introspection, this time of year. I don’t know about you, but as I look back to the beginning of 2025 I realize that I had some expectations and plans going into this year, some of which were fulfilled, some of which lay dormant in the back of my mind.

I finished another book in 2025:The Proverbial Man, a one-year devotional for men based on the book of Proverbs. Check it out! It’s available on Amazon. What a feeling of satisfaction it was to write each day and see it coming to completion! And to hold the finished product in my hands means that I have created something that no one else has ever done. Very satisfying!

On the other hand, those dormant things? Getting a newsletter going routinely; making decisions and getting started on book three; even becoming more consistent with this blog, not to mention routine and maybe mundane projects around the house. Maybe you too know how easy it is to let things slide and before you know it, another year has come and gone!

If you were to take a moment to reflect on your own 2025, what would you say were your successes? And what were your “dormant things”? And now the hard question: What will we do differently in 2026? I’m not talking about New Year’s Resolutions here. I’m talking about things that are in your heart that might take most of the new year to complete. Things that could change your life, or the lives of others around you. Things that will bring glory to God and help others to see Christ in us.

Sometimes having someone to help us stay on track is important, like a Life Coach, a trusted friend, a Pastor. Or, maybe you can be the accountability partner to that friend or Pastor (Yes, Pastors need a listening ear at times, too).

The point is that we should make plans, be intentional, line up support, and get started! You know that I’ll be asking the same thing at the end of 2026!

Chuck Phillips

Life Choices Christian Counseling, LLC

Licensed Christian Pastoral Counselor, N.C.C.A.

Board Certified Professional Life Coach, I.B.C.C.

LifeChoicesCLC.Com LifeChoicesCLC@gmail.com

573-280-5093