Even though they have the best of intentions, about this time of year many people start setting aside their New Year\u2019s resolutions \u2013 if they haven\u2019t already.<\/p>\n
Do you have any left or have they all been abandoned for another try in 2018?<\/p>\n
For me, there are the usual resolutions of losing weight, eating better, spending more time with the family, helping others more, cleaning out the garage, landscaping around the house, renovating the kitchen, etc.<\/p>\n
To help me try to be successful and accomplish my goals, I keep in mind a simple quote by Scottish minister and hymnist George Matheson: \u201cWe conquer by continuing.” This direct approach by Matheson, who lived from 1842 to 1906, can be an encouragement for each of us.<\/p>\n
This year, I decided to follow through with two resolutions that have eluded me for years.<\/p>\n
On the health front, I want to lose weight and start eating better.\u00a0To accomplish this, I have purchased a wearable device that tracks my activities and have started the logging process of exercise and daily life, including my food intake.<\/p>\n
The other resolution is to learn a new language. The Hebrew and Greek languages have long fascinated me, so this year I am resolved to learn a Greek word every day with the help of a desktop calendar that focuses on Greek word studies.\u00a0My goal is to learn enough Greek to start reading more of the original Greek texts from the early Christian church and expand my overall understanding of that particular period of time.<\/p>\n
There are other benefits of keeping resolutions.<\/p>\n
I hope to develop new habits for daily reading, study and other routines. Working on better time management can have a positive effect on other areas of your life that you may not realize.\u00a0And eating better leads to exercise, which then leads to wanting to get more\/better sleep.<\/p>\n
If you feel better and have more energy, those long-lost \u201choney do\u201d list projects seem achievable.\u00a0Can I complete my \u201choney do\u201d list in 2017?\u00a0Only time will tell.<\/p>\n
As we move deeper into 2017, I hope your resolutions are still intact and you are making progress on accomplishing the goals you have set for the year.<\/p>\n
Keep George Matheson\u2019s quote about perseverance in mind.<\/p>\n
The Scotsman attended Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated first in classics, logic and philosophy.\u00a0Then at age 20, he became blind, but persevered to enter the ministry.\u00a0He dedicated the remainder of his life to theological and historical studies.<\/p>\n
So, whatever you have resolved to accomplish, just like Matheson you can conquer by continuing.<\/p>\n