It could have been worse

This year is almost ended and at this time people go through different emotions because of what they have been through in the course of the year. Due to the fact that the end of the year always comes with a myriad of thoughts, feelings and emotions which have a tendency, if not well managed, to lead to sadness, frustration and depression. The end of the year is when people review what has happened . . . how they have fared generally and how far they have gone in executing their goals. Many times, we get discouraged at the end of the year because we get too judgmental about our shortcomings.  We must understand that things could have been worse, so we need not beat ourselves too hard in the head. Much as we need to review the year so we can better prepare for the coming year, we must understand that being too hard on ourselves will be counter-productive.

“It is natural that we might react harshly for goals that were not achieved; understand that beating yourself up (harshly criticising yourself) does not motivate you to get what you want and it only pushes you down into depression, guilt and hopelessness.” Patrick Wanis

Due to the adversity of the times many people have experienced unexpected hiccups which have made the year tough. Indeed, it has been a tough year but looking back it could have been worse. The fact that we are alive is worth being grateful for. Many have lost their lives but here we are still alive. As long as we have life there is hope . . . life surely can and will be better.

“Anyone who is among the living has hope –even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!” Ecclesiastes 9:4

At the end of the year we must have the attitude of gratitude. We might not be where we really want to be or have what we expected to have at this time of the year but it could have been worse.

“I cried because I had no shoes . . .  until I saw a man with no feet. Life is full of blessings. Sometimes we’re just blind to see them” Unknown author

We just must be grateful at this time.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.” Melody Beattie

Gratitude will help us have right perspective to see a better tomorrow. Ingratitude will distort our perspective and discourage us from setting our gaze on better things.

In life we must see things in the right light. If we only see people who are ahead of us we might get into competitive jealousy and we will get depressed and discouraged. We must be motivated by those who have gone ahead of us but we must understand each person’s race and course is different so we cannot all go at the same pace. In life there will not only be those who have gone ahead of us but those who see us as having gone ahead of them. We must be grateful for where we are and aspire for greater heights.

As this year draws to an end we must reflect and be grateful . . . things could have been worse.