New year, new vision, new you

The New Year begins on 1st January and the word January comes from the name of the Roman god Janus with two faces, one looking forward and the other looking backward. As we start the year, we are asked to leave the past behind with its hurts and disappointments, and move forward with confidence, courage and passion to make our lives happy and fulfilled.

Even if your hopes and dreams were dashed on the rock of last year, you will find in that wreckage a springboard from which to bounce to a new height and find your dreams realized. Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said, “If you fail, never give up because F.A.I.L. means ‘First Attempt In Learning’. End is not the end, in fact E.N.D. means ‘Effort Never Dies. If you get no as an answer, remember N.O. means ‘Next Opportunity’.” Let us be positive. Our life is too short to lament about the past. The New Year is like a blank sheet of paper with fresh opportunities to design or redesign your life to become a new YOU.

Prince Siddharth saw disease, old age and death all around and the questions he raised led him to years of contemplation under the Bodhi tree in Gaya which resulted in the avatar of Sri Buddha. The Wright brothers saw the birds flying and they crafted a new vision for their lives and made aircrafts. Because of their vision millions of people travel across continents today using modern aircrafts. Mahatma Gandhi noticed the injustice and brutality the Indians suffered under the British. He created a new vision for himself which resulted in the freedom of our nation.

When people are young they dream of becoming like others, an engineer, a doctor, or a scientist. Consequently, many people choose to limit their lives to those small dreams and their lives end up in frustration and dissatisfaction. They, like contractors who build houses without a blueprint, ruin their precious and only lives without a vision. They never ask themselves, ‘Why am I on this earth?’ ‘What is God’s purpose for my life?’, ‘What is the kind of life that will give lasting happiness and fulfilment?’

Your vision will certainly help you to take the direction you want to go in your life. Dr Abdul Kalam said, “A dream is not the thing you see in sleep but is that thing that doesn’t let you sleep.” When your goals are clear and you take firm and sure steps you will be directed to the vision you want to achieve. The pages that follow will guide you in this adventure. Wish you a beautiful New Year with a new vision for a new life!