Start 2025 with Action

I’m not usually one for New Year’s resolutions. I find it most effective to make a change the very moment it is recognized as necessary. Why would I delay that?

If my lifestyle is unhealthy, causing my steps to become sluggish as I trudge toward an untimely death, how foolish would it be to wait for an arbitrary date such as January 1st to take control of my health?

If I become aware of my habit of making bad financial choices, why would I choose to continue to bury myself deeper and deeper in debt and wait until the new year before I begin saving and investing?

The same is true of moral and behavioral changes. If selfishness consumes my thoughts and sin corrupts my life, I must change my heart. I cannot wait for someday. It must happen today.

Now, the urgency of these necessary changes is not the only reason that they should not be delayed – though I personally deem that argument sufficient. Additionally, though, if I do not adopt correct behavior today and strive for change today, I have no reason to believe I will ever do so in the future. For, every day is lived as today. That which I recognize as urgent today, I will also deem urgent tomorrow. That which I postpone today, I will also postpone tomorrow.

That being said…

Over the past year, we have discussed many difficulties that must be faced in life. We have talked about fear, people-pleasing, lack of discipline and confidence, weakness, anger, and many other topics. We have also contemplated solutions to overcoming these vices that hold us back. I write today’s contemplation in an attempt to introduce one solution that has yet to be mentioned. Many of these things we struggle with can be approached strategically with a plan and much understanding, and we can slowly build ourselves up to withstand their temptation, but there is something to be said for what I offer you today:

Strength of soul.

We can discuss problems and solutions all day, and I must point out that that is a good thing. However, action must be taken. Words that are not acted upon are empty. At some point, we must stop wasting time arguing about what a good man should be and simply be one (Marcus Aurelius; On a side note, I understand the spirit of what Marcus is saying here, but I believe it best if the act of being a good man happens alongside the conversation instead of replacing the conversation).

One can understand all there is about fear and courage, yet knowledge does not move one to act courageously in the face of fear.

One can know everything about humility, yet knowledge does not move one to be more humble.

One can know everything about people-pleasing, lack of discipline and confidence, weakness, and anger… but understanding does not replace the importance of a strong soul that is willing to take action.

‘It is a shame’, Marcus Aurelius writes, ‘when the soul is first to give way in this life, and the body does not give way.’

We cannot delay behavior that must be embodied today.

We cannot expect that being virtuous will be easier tomorrow, and it is, therefore, better to wait.

We cannot be students of Christ simply by knowing His teachings. Even the devil knows Jesus’ teachings. We must live them out.

And there is no better time than now.

Nike said it best: Just do it.

We cannot wait for complete understanding before acting. We cannot wait for the stars to align before making decisions. We cannot wait for a clear path before walking.

Courage is not the absence of fear but action despite it.

Discipline is not the absence of temptation but the resisting of it.

Strength is not the absence of weakness but the overcoming of it.

The take-home message of today’s contemplation is this:

When you want to do what is right, but the odds seem insurmountably stacked against you, and the consequences seem horrible, and you aren’t sure how to approach it... Just do it.

Take action!

'The Thinker' - thinkin' about heading to Taco Bell