A widespread practice for people around the world is to make resolutions to change things we have done in the past year that will impact our coming year. In the historical book of Nehemiah, the people sign a covenant to make changes in their behavior. This time of year, we hear about resolutions, promises and goals for the coming year. However, most resolutions are broken within the first 30 days. This historical book on leadership challenged me as I look forward to 2022 and reflect on my personal development goals.

MAGA a frequent set of letters the past few years has been placed on hats, posters, and campaign signs. What it has personally come to mean for me is, let us “Make Americans Grateful Again.”  As I thought about a way to flesh this out, I realized I needed to work on my own attitude first. I want to focus more on others this coming year. To begin thinking about impacting others with a grateful heart.

Looking at my relationships with others challenged me to write down a list of questions to ask myself.

Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than others?

Is there even the least suspicion of hypocrisy in my life?

Am I honest in all my words and actions?

Do I exaggerate?

Am I dependable?

Can I be trusted?

Do I pass along things that were told to me in confidence?

Do I grumble and complain?

Am I jealous, impure, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?

Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self- justifying?

Am I proud?

Do I thank God for people that He places in my life?

I heard Jim Stovall speak recently, and he said that “we all live on a Marvelous Street.”   Jim said we change our life when we change our mindset to one of gratefulness.

May this New Year be one where your relationships grow deeper and stronger as we strive to “Make Americans Grateful Again,” because it begins with us.