Now that 2022 is upon us, some people are doubtless trying to uphold those resolutions they made on New Year’s Day: losing weight, working out, spending less time on social media, and other exercises in self-discipline aimed at creating better habits.
In addition to desire, willpower, and stamina, veterans of the resolution wars know that one key to victory is to make their vows as specific as possible. Instead of the vague injunction “lose weight,” for example, they aim to “lose one pound a week for 20 weeks.” If they want to get into shape, they leave aside the hazy “exercise more” and join a gym with the intention of exercising there every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning.
All well and good.
But the advent of a new year also provides the perfect opportunity to pause and look at our lives writ large. Losing 20 pounds is a worthy endeavor, but a big picture examination of ourselves can also bring benefits. This inquiry might find us standing in front of a mirror asking such questions as these: Am I on the right path? Am I fulfilling my vocation or my calling in regard to my talents? Am I making progress or failing in my quest to be the best I can be? And what exactly does that mean?
In short, how do we measure success on a large scale?
