5 Lessons I’m Taking this 2022
I came upon this New Year Thought Guide by MAGIS Creative Spaces. I started answering their prompts in my journal already. I’ll be sharing my answers here for the 5 Lessons to Take into the Year Ahead prompt! These are all based on my self-assessment for how I thought, spoke, and acted last 2021.
1) Love thy neighbor as you love yourself. This is from Luke 10:27 where we read the parable of the Good Samaritan. "'The man answered, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” It doesn’t stop at God; this verse reminds me that my love should extend to the people around me—as I love myself. If I keep focusing on my flaws in episodes of self-pity or self-doubt, then I would only see the flaws or the splinters in my brother’s eye. But if I am kind, caring, and forgiving to myself, then I would be able to pass it forward to the person next to me.
Also, may this quote by C.S. Lewis remind me: “Do not waste time bothering whether you “love” your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone you will presently come to love him.”
2) Truly care for yourself, so you can care for others.
As I get older, so do my parents. This was such a late realization for me as I transcend more into adulthood. I need to step up to be more responsible, so I can help them. This means I need to care for myself in all aspects—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. A lot of cats and dogs depend on us too, our pets and community kitties we feed, so I must make sure I am in tip-top shape, so I truly look after others well!
3) Think Philippians 4:8 thoughts. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”
Last 2021, I’ve dwelt in negative thoughts, my head swimming in harsh words towards myself. My mind and heart were in throes, thrashing and wailing. Sometimes, I would unintentionally pass on the pain to somebody else, because I was feeling troubled or morose. It felt like a battle fought internally, one which I would still feel sometimes in certain moments. Just because the year is new doesn't mean we automatically change, but it does help shift old narratives. New beginnings, new chances, blank slates… I can start to think healthier thoughts, to use them to combat negative ones. I need to step out of the pattern, the loop, whenever I circle back to sad thoughts.
To think Philippians 4:8 thoughts, I speak kind words to myself. Affirmations, if you will! I learned this too when I started taking psychotherapy/counseling sessions in MAGIS Creative Spaces last year.
Also, when I feel overwhelmed by pressure or scenarios I’m imagining, I think of or say my affirmations like “I can do hard and meaningful things,” “I am capable,” “I am strong,” or “I can be better.”
4) Use your sensitivity as a superpower.
During the last few weeks of 2021, I realized that I may be a highly sensitive person. (This isn’t a diagnosis but a personality trait.) Growing up, I have always been painfully shy and introverted. I don’t like being rushed. I get overwhelmed when there’s too much to-do’s on my plate and they’re all urgent. I feel pressure deeply as much as I feel love, gratitude, awe, sadness, and other feelings deeply. While being very sensitive has its cons, I know that there are pros to it. I get to attune my heart more to notice a person’s subtle change in mood, to wonder at the curiosity a kitten has in its eyes when it stares at me, and to get out of myself and practice empathy and compassion towards somebody else.
5) Live by love and not by fear. My thoughts and actions, even plans and dreams, were often driven by fear and worries. This 2022, I mustn't make choices that are based on fear but on love. I’m getting started on art and writing again, but I feel afraid it might not be sustainable and that people will not like my next works anymore. My hopes and my love for art and writing should be stronger and heavier than my fears! My wings should be able to carry the load I’m taking in!
Since workdays started yesterday, I’ve tried to invite God more into my work. Before the day starts and before I start working on my own projects or a client’s, I search for different prayers and say them first. When I feel pressured again (because being a highly sensitive person, I really feel it easily), I pray to God and tell Him about my problems. Even though there’s no immediate answer to my issue, at least, speaking it to God helps unload the weight off of my chest.
I want to keep remembering God during work and when I’m just going through my daily life, in the lovely and warm ordinariness of it. To keep living it by love and not by fear.
I get worried too about my family’s health, especially with COVID-19 cases rising again. I get worried about them growing older. I get worried about friends. I get worried about growing older. I get worried about the political state in the Philippines (but let’s be hopeful and keep doing good!) I get worried about the effects of the climate crisis to our country and the world. There are so many things I’m worried and afraid of, but if I keep focusing on those, then I won’t be able to live life freely. I won’t take chances. I won’t look forward to tomorrow. I won’t hope.
That isn’t how I want to live this year and the next.
So I’m taking these five lessons, all under my word for the year which is agape. With love comes pain, but I’m ready to take it all in.
I’m all in. :-)
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” — C.S. Lewis