It’s a new year. What are you giving up?

No, I’m not talking about chocolate or smoking or robbing banks – that’s a different blog post!  I’m talking about qualities of thought.  Huh?!  Yep, what kinds of thoughts are you willing to give up this year that just aren’t serving you?  In other words, what thoughts are you thinking that are holding you back from recognizing your – and others’ – God-given freedom and progress?

Is it your tendency to find fault with yourself or others?  Whatever false sense of satisfaction you get from that isn’t enough to take away the stain it leaves on your spirit.  Instead, uncover your natural inclination to see the good in your neighbors and to help them celebrate their awesomeness!

Are you a procrastinator, waiting ’til not only the last moment, but way beyond it?  Yes, procrastination begins in thought.  But a new viewpoint can reverse it instantly, dissolving the bad effects of self-justification.

What about fretfulness?  Or blame?  Or rehearsing drama?  These are all simply phases of self-absorption which tend to hinder and hide your true nature.

Jesus was so convinced that his followers were clearer thinkers, kinder and holier, that he said of them (and you too) “ye are the light of the world.”  (Matt 5:14)  Imagine that!  Lifting off the bushel basket of willfulness and self-love, your brilliant godlike character shines forth as a guiding beacon.

It’s all just about changing your outlook.  There are plenty of available tools to help you do that too: the Sermon on the Mount, for one.  (Matt 5, 6, 7)  The Apostle James says “resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (Chapter 4, vs 7) He further explains that you can do so by submitting yourself to God.  Mary Baker Eddy adds, “Rise in the strength of Spirit to resist all that is unlike good.   God has made man capable of this, and nothing can vitiate the ability and power divinely bestowed on man.”  (Science and Health page 393)

Think of that – nothing can prevent you from replacing fear with joy, or vanity with patience, or anger with affection.  Nothing can deter your efforts to express your real nature as a child of God.

It’s a new year – a great time to leave behind outdated thinking, no matter how familiar it seems, and take on the freshness of a more spiritual outlook.  You can do it.

Melissa Hayden is a Christian Science practitioner in Salem, OR. You can find more information and additional articles at this link.  If you like what you’re reading, click the “add me” button.