By Arthur Moses Opio
Decisions
It is Jerry Rice, who said, "Today I will do what others won’t so tomorrow I can do what others can’t." This statement gets me going each time I am launching myself into any kind of activity. I imagine what inaction will make me miss or if my full potential won’t be realised.
It is written in Psalm 37:23 , "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighted in his way."
On the 1st of January, 2024. I did my first run. It was the first workout of the year. First of all, I slept late at 1:00 AM and yes, just like everyone else, I was waiting for the new year to come through. I did this crossover in a simple way. I opted for a camp fire with my neighbours and we ate and talked through the night about so many things key to our lives like parenting in this day and age, being responsible people, etc.
Early that morning, when the birds were chirping and the skies were fully open. I kept debating with myself whether I should or shouldn’t run. I even started saying, I can do this in the evening but I knew the importance of getting this done early morning. We agreed with a neighbour of mine to run and as I waited for his call, I realised I needed to walk to his gate. He said, “Man, hadn’t you come, I wasn’t also going to run.”
Starting Your Year The Right Way
This brings me to the heart of this message. It is important how you start the year. Between 2023 and 2024, there is only one person who stands in between and that’s you. You are going to be the reason for your success, progress or failure.
We rise to the level of our goals and fall to the level of our system says, James Clear. In 2023, I had a system for my fitness routine. I run 3 times a week and ensure I did not miss twice as James Clear teaches.
For anyone to be successful at anything, you have to be disciplined to follow your routine, order and discipline. Thanks to what I was already doing, I told myself, get up, dress up, put on your running shoes and get out to run. Just that act alone was the first step in getting myself into the routine that helped me last year.
If God is ordering your steps to improve your family, faith, finances, fitness and friendships. Why aren’t you taking the step to go out and do it right away? Do we need reminders from God about the ANT, how wise it is and that we should learn from its ways. ANTS act, they work together even without a ruler or governor.
You have an opportunity to compare yourself with who you were last year and what you want to be this year. Self discipline on your side will be the key ingredient in ensuring that everything you want to see happen, happens.
What is it that you want to achieve?
Is it still lingering in your head? Have you taken a step to write it on paper and start working towards it. Is it your savings and investment goals that you want to improve? Is it exploring Unit Trust funds and Treasury Bonds in this year?
Is it having a better relationship with your family members? Is it getting healthier or fitter this year? Is it joining an investment club? Whatever your goal is, no one will come and do it for you. You have to muscle the energy within you, strategise, plan and purpose to be intentional on getting where you want to.
On the side of my financial journey. I made the first deposit of 70,000 UGX into my Unit Trust fund. It is little money but the habit, the act of getting that started was very important for me because I know strongly that we are creatures of habit and when you choose to never start, it becomes the song through out the year as procrastination gets the best of you as a person.
Build an Emergency Fund
Towards the end of last year, there was a headline in the NilePost that said, "Kanungu, Rukungiri, Ntungamo workers miss December salary" Imagine this was you last year.
Wouldn’t you want to start building your emergency fund? Emergencies happen, school fees is also becoming an emergency after people blow up all their savings in December festive celebrations. We forget what the scriptures tell us, "The wise have wealth and luxury but fools spend whatever they get(Proverbs 21:20)"
Everything you are going to do is going to require a system. James Clear says, "We rise to the level of our goals but fall to the level of our systems." Like the ANTS, have a system for food security, financial security, family security, fitness, friendships, etc. Set the found right for everything you want to do. We can do it, it is possible. Let us stop living by chance and forget that our faith needs knowledge, needs wisdom, needs people to support us, etc. Don’t only wish for a better 2024, wish you are applying the knowldege you have, you are wiser, better, more knowledgeable, etc.
Don't Have Self-Pity
Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams."
Do not have self pity on yourself. Stop whining, get out and act on what needs to be done. Develop the mental fortitude to sail through and learn the lessons from your past mistakes. You are enough, you are capable and you got what it takes to come up on top or close to the top.
Make your dream work by working it.
