Achieving a purpose-driven new year

Identifying my purpose not to talk of achieving it has been a difficult one over the years. Thankfully, it was different this year. Now I smile at the old me who wanted to be perfect at all she does, made sure her goals weren’t offending anyone, and always thought that some person will applaud her mission. These inhibitors to my purpose held me bound for years with their chief as procrastination. It took a few hard steps, seemingly as it were, not to live every year like the other years. I am finally free from my mind’s limitations with room for improvement and you too can.

So, as the year draws its curtain, to open for another, it is important to reflect on how we have lived our lives in the ending year. Have we been able to achieve the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year, why were we not able to achieve these goals, if goals were achieved, what has helped us achieve them? These thoughts are worth thinking about, as a popular Igbo proverb says, “he who fails to look out for what made him fall, will fall again”. So, this ending time, calls for a thinking time. A time to peruse the activities we have carried out so far and how they have aligned with our purpose, which according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined, as something set up as an objective or end to be attained. Simply, “a resolution”. Another question for thought is, do we have a purpose? The purpose again, according to Oxford English Dictionary, is the reason for which something is done or which something exists. Simply, the “why”, for the mission or goals we have set. What were our resolutions for the ending year and why did we make them? Answers to these questions are key to living a purpose-driven life in the coming year.

Before the year ends, we should identify our purpose (resolutions and why). To do that, we should look inward for what interests us, our talents, innate abilities, and motivations. While doing that, we should also make sure that what interests us is in our best interest. Also, we should not let others’ opinions, societal expectations, or family standards debar us from our purpose, as far as it is not against moral ethics. Any good thing one enjoys doing is what gives meaning to one’s life, our resolution must interest us to the level that it makes our lives interesting and worth living.

The reason we decide on a purpose is more fulfilling than the purpose itself. Our purpose should be solution driven. Others should be able to either learn or solve life problems through our purpose. Our real purpose is in what our goals have in store for our society, then what we stand to gain. The profit is usually satisfying but the impact is fulfilling. Therefore, more important, than the resolution is “why”.

In all, let’s find a solution-driven purpose (resolution and why), take on it with a positive mindset, avoid procrastination and always put God first. So, before we shout “Happy New Year” to welcome 2023, let’s find a purpose and intentionally plan to live it. I hope these tips help, see you in the new year. 

Peace Igwe is of the Department of English, Lagos State University