I think this applies in many areas of life. So many people are focused on resolutions for the new year, but doesn't it make sense to do some purging of stuff you don't need so you'll have room for the good things you want? As I cleaned the house these past few days, I also considered some "spiritual" things I could let go of in my quest to continue improvement in 2015. For example, why don't you join me in 2015 in tossing out:
1. Pity and feeling sorry for ourselves or other people. We can't chose whether we're a victim, but we can choose whether to remain a victim, and pity does nothing but hand us a shovel to dig a nice rut to stay in with it. I said this to a couple of people and they looked at me like I was an alien landed from outer space, so it's perfect to say here: When you're down, what does it take for you to say "geeze life/the world really has kicked me in and a** and I'd like to kick it back one good time." How long does it take for you to get to the point where you look in the mirror and say "it doesn't have to be this way forever?" Or do you get to that point? I do. I get tired of being down, and I don't want to stay there. In fact, nothing pisses me off more than people feeling sorry for me, because it feels like they're trying to shove me in a trap. No, thank you, and I'll not do it to you, either. Whatever you've faced in the old year(s), now is the time to let it go; to stand up one more time; and to build what you want. How do you do this? By looking for the good, by giving thanks for it, by taking advantage of every opportunity. The old song in one of those Christmas movies has it right: just put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking out the door. One day at a time. One step at a time. If you make today suck less than yesterday and keep doing that over and over, every day, eventually you get back to better days.
2. Anger. If the anger is justified fine, deal with it and the issues surrounding it, but once that's done then it's time to forgive and let it go. If it isn't, then work on whatever issues within you caused it. Either way, get in prayer, and use discernment to figure out what you need to do to handle it effectively, and then get on with it. One thing I've learned is that people are going to do what they want, regardless of what you think or how it affects you, so it's best not to worry about it and get on with your own business. If your relationships are right, you should be able to talk to people about things and work them out.