Look Forward to YOUR BEST YEAR EVER!

The ancient Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, who was a contemporary of Confucius, Lao Tsu, and the Buddha, is reported to have said that “you can never walk though the same river twice.” More accurately, the English translation from the Greek goes thus: “The river where you set your foot just now is gone--those waters giving way to this, now this.” Put simply, Heraclitus is telling us that we live in an ever-changing world, one that is filled with the ebbs and flows of life, of life energy. He’s also advising us that, as the river (of life) changes, it’s in the past, so let it go and move on! The “new” river offers water that is filled with possibilities and untapped potential, so be prepared to go with the flow!

Against this life-affirming backdrop, Heraclitus also said, “The sun is new again, all day.” Now think about this simple-sounding statement for a moment. Each new day represents a window of new opportunities, new adventures, new life experiences! It’s up to us, each and every one of us, however, to decide whether we want to step out into the light of the new day sun or hide in the sun’s shadows and act as if “life just happens to us.” Yes, it’s our choice, folks! And, remember, the world around us is going to change whatever we may decide, whether we like it or not. Indeed, there is another saying that goes like this: “If you want things to stay the same, then something is going to have to change!”

NBA coach Phil Jackson, in his book Sacred Hoops, cautions us to remember that the best way to realize your dreams is to wake up! In other words, your best days, your best years, and your best life can and will be more than just dreams if you “wake up” and take action.

So what do YOU want to do with YOUR life, including your work life? Are you willing to step out into the sun’s light and make each new day the “best ever” by taking advantage of what it has to offer you? No matter how hard you try, you can rest assured, according to Heraclitus, that you really won’t walk through the same river twice. So take that step. It’s a new day. It’s your best day ever! And guess what? When you get used to thinking, believing, and acting in this way, you’ll find that there are even better days to come! In fact, by not holding yourself a “prisoner of your own thoughts,” you can now look forward to your best year ever, both in your work AND in your personal life!