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Dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Philippians 3:13

As the curtain falls on the year and many of us have no doubt began thinking about new resolutions, let us cast our minds back and assess how well we have done concerning the resolutions we made this year.

This is not an exercise in being conceited or self-castigation, but for preparedness going forward. If your assessment of the year has been positive, then by all means, celebrate your growth and plan to carry it forward into the new year with a sense of optimism. Do more of what works and set your sights on bigger accomplishments.

However, if your assessment has not been positive, take time to take stock. Why do you think your year went the way it did? What could you have done differently? Who could you have reached out to for help? Which lessons can you take forward?

Now, whether your assessment for the year has been positive or not, this verse encourages us to always keep looking forward, leaving behind whatever has happened. Leave behind the “should haves” and “could haves”, there is no way to change it. Take with you the lessons that will serve you well in the new year.

Many of us focus on starting the year well, and that is good. That is why for example, you see an uptake in gym memberships at the beginning of the year. However, as good as it is to start well, finishing well is even more important. In a race, you can always overcome a bad start, but you cannot overcome a bad finish.

So as you go into the new year, focus on how you want to finish, keeping that imagery firmly in your mind as the year progresses. How would you feel if you accomplished all that you set out to do? Keep that feeling with you as well, invoking it at least once a day throughout the year.

Whether you plan to run a personal best, a season’s best, a championship record, a world record or whatever it is you hope to accomplish in the coming year, focus on forgetting the past, look forward and plan to finish well.