Happy new ear!

A friend asked me what my new year’s resolution is, since it seems like everyone has them.

It took me a (long) while to realise that I really had none. Each day I have a goal to achieve, so I guess more than a year’s resolution, I have a bunch of new day’s resolution.

Then I remembered last new year’s sermon. Then I got it - my new year’s resolution.

I vow to have a happy new ear!

And it’s no typo error. I really had to drop the “Y.”

At times we need to drop some things to get new ones.

This year I vow to get new thoughts, new things to think about, and new ways to think.

Renewal of self starts from the renewal of the mind, after all.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing
of your mind… Rom 12:2

And since thoughts start to burn from within, though actually gets ignited from outside, I would need to watch vigilantly what things I let inside.

I’ve realised that my growth, be it intellectual, physical, and spiritual, comes from what I see, hear and feel. For me the biggest challenge is filtering what I hear. Voices do come convincingly in all treble and notes.

Do not pay attention to every word people say… Ecc 7:21

Most people guard their hearts from hurt, others guard their wallets from theft, and since my heart is already taken and my wallet really has nothing in it, the only thing I’d have to guard is what I hear. Influence starts from what one hears. Politicians make use of this feat fully.

And as such that I choose who I listen to, I’d have to choose what I let others hear from me too.

And as I need all the inspiration I need next year for work and all that life decides to throw my way, I try to be wary with pessimists. We need them to give us a reality check, but we do not need them to put all our hopes down. They can be such energy vampires.

I’m starting the new year with a positive attitude and thus try to listen to the tiniest needle drop of positivity even in the most negative of situations.

…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. Philippians 4:8

Thus, when people say, “lend me your ears,” make sure you lend them to those who speak of good things.

Happy new EAR everyone!