Greetings to all on this Monday, December 30, 2024, as we prepare to start a new year in a few days.

 

Today I thought it might be appropriate to ask you to look back and reflect on how things turned out for you in 2024.

 

Many of us have heard the phrase “It is what it is” either in conversation or when we accept what has happened.

 

I’m reminded that “It is what it is” when situations in my life appear that I have no control over.  I don’t know about you; however, I have learned in most cases to accept the fact that “It is what it is” and move on.

 

For those who will make your New Year’s resolutions; something I tend not to do, I challenge you to accept each situation as a lesson learned.

 

Those five words “It is what it is” are also a strong reminder of being able to keep my emotional intelligence in check.

 

50 tips for improving your emotional intelligence

 

“A key component of emotional intelligence, self-awareness is the ability to recognize and understand your character, moods, and emotions and their effect on others. It includes a realistic self-assessment of what you’re capable of – your strengths and weaknesses – and knowing how others perceive you. It can help highlight areas for self-improvement, make you better at adapting, and can limit wrongful decisions.”

 

Each of us has various strengths and weaknesses; however, when you know what they are it is something we can learn from.

 

My strength comes from journaling my five things to be grateful for each as I can reflect on how my day went and the people who made a difference in my life.

 

As I prepared to write this week, I also thought about taking time to conduct my year in review and look at the tasks that I wanted to work on in 2024 and will adjust as well for 2025 on those things that require more of my attention.

 

In knowing my purpose in finding, following, and finishing it, I know what God has for me is for me.  I can only focus on myself and no one else.

 

I also am aware of the quote from the late legendary Tennessee Lady Vols Coach Pat Summit “It is what it is.  But it will be what you make it.”

 

As we honor this week the lessons on life, love, and politics from the longest-lived President of the United States Jimmy Carter who died yesterday, let us not forget that: “Failure is a reality; we all fail at times, and it’s painful when we do. But it’s better to fail while striving for something wonderful, challenging, adventurous, and uncertain than to say, ‘I don’t want to try because I may not succeed completely.'”

 

I don’t know about you; however, it seems that time flew by fast this holiday season.  The things that I thought I had planned in my mind to accomplish didn’t happen the way I wanted them to and I simply chalked it up as “It is what it is.”

 

What about you, did you accomplish everything you wanted to do during the holidays?

 

One of the best things I accomplished was getting my entire kitchen painted from the ceiling to the walls down to the baseboards the first week of December 2024.

 

I believe that by front-loading my most challenging task before the holidays I was able to rest and enjoy the solitude of my home.

 

Subconsciously, I’ve been a Covey Knight for many years, and I knew that rest is something we all need and when you have a mindset of “It is what it is” especially for me we all need time to rest.

 

It was a chapter out of Stephen R. Covey’s Book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People” on Sharpen the Saw that caused me to think about “Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw.”

 

“Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw is about recognizing the importance of taking time regularly to take care of yourself physically, spiritually, socially/emotionally, and mentally. The late Dr. Stephen R. Covey explains the importance of regular renewal in all four of these areas, to create a fully satisfying life with intrinsic security.”

 

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Habit #7: Sharpen the Saw –

 

This holiday season, I took time out to “Sharpen the Saw” and reflect on life while understanding “It is what it is” in the process of living.

 

In essence, “Sharpen the Saw” is about balancing the four dimensions of body, heart, mind, and spirit.

 

As each of us prepares for the New Year and 2025, I challenge you to find your balance in “Sharpen the Saw” and learn to look at yourself objectively, while balancing the four dimensions of body, heart, mind, and spirit.

 

The principle of renewal that Stephen R. Covey talks about in the Four Human Dimensions can help us to achieve balance in our self-care means taking the necessary time to renew each of the four human dimensions.

 

Body: Exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep

 

Heart: Investing in our relationships

 

Mind: Growing our knowledge and skill

 

Spirit: Spending time on activities that align with our deepest values

 

Bing Videos

 

“Renewal is the principle—and the process—that empowers us to move on an upward spiral of growth and change, of continuous improvement.”  — Stephen R. Covey.

 

Therefore, when you hear someone say “It is what it is” take a minute and ask yourself where you are in your life and where you need to go.

 

It’s my prayer that 2025 will be your best year yet to come!

 

Remember the quote from Abraham Lincoln “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”