Every new year comes with new beginnings, new chances, new opportunities. Or at least, this is how our minds have been programmed to think. But with every new year, we cannot forget what we have left behind. If there is anything I learned more than ever last year, it is the importance of always going back to our roots – our purpose, our reasons, and our “why?” It is only when we attune ourselves to live purposefully can we pave our path toward finding happiness, contentment and fulfillment. It is only when we find the very meaning in our purpose can we truly feel successful, and fuel our passion to continue doing more.

In order to begin the journey, or even just to re-visit our purpose, we have to go back to our very reason, and our “whys” – why are we doing this? Why have we gotten here? – to see if it is worth going on, if we have met our goals, or sometimes, to change direction and to re-examine. I think what people have to realize is that there is completely nothing wrong with the need to change things, tweak, or fine-tune. Change does not equate to failure or weakness. In fact, it means and demonstrates the strength to admit the wrong, and do something about it. Instead of resisting change, we must remember that it is the only constant in this world, and the sooner we accept and imbibe it, the more progressive we can become.

Once we find our purpose, we will simultaneously find the meaning behind it all, and that will consistently substantiate our very reasons. As time passes by, our reasons become multi-layered, as our meaning becomes multi-faceted. After all, this is how we roll with the times, progress and evolve. The importance then becomes being resilient enough to focus, and stick to our original intentions, reasons and purpose.

As January is well on its way, it is now also the perfect time to re-align and re-visit – projects, people, daily chores and errands even, but most especially ourselves. It is an exercise we tend to shelf and deem unnecessary, but if only we take a little time to do, trajectories are much clearer, and the haze disappears. The holidays and the last quarter of every year have a way of throwing us off amidst all the pandemonium, and giving us the perfect excuse to do things later. As a new year begins, let us find our center, and re-focus, if only to aim for clarity for the rest of the year.