‘…we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.’ – Will Durant
The start of each new year is met with great expectations of things all of a sudden changing for the better. Somehow we believe that as the calendar turns to the first day of the new year everything will be reset and we will erase the bad circumstances of the past year. But that is not how things are in reality.
The past cannot be erased. It happened. And unless we suffer from memory loss, it will always be a part of us. Reminding us of our shortcomings and our failures. But the past does not have to define our future. We have the power to decide how we react to past events which will then lead to a more successful and happier future.
We make the choice to either dwell on past mistakes or move forward and learn from them. The goal being that we not repeat such mistakes. Errors in judgement and misunderstandings are made by every human being but within those mistakes are life’s lessons if we choose to listen. Otherwise we risk repeating the past and never develop as an individual and realise our potential in being able to attain our goals.
Great expectations can lead to great disappointments if those expectations are unrealistic or not well within our reach. On the other hand, making the choice to learn from the past and not dwell on our failures can lead to a more satisfying future.
Reality is what we make it. It does not happen to us but is the result of our interpretation of what we learn from past events. The future is in our hands. But we have to put in the work and not expect things to simply fall into place by merely wishing for a better tomorrow. Habits are formed over the long term. They take effort, time, and commitment. Doing something, even a small amount, on a daily basis leads to a future that we create. One where we are in control. The only thing holding us back is the limitation we place on ourselves. The thoughts in our minds can either propel us forward or hold us back. The choice is ours to make.
