Last week, we started a series on what to quit, according to C.S. Lewis, especially in preparation for the New Year. 

 

4. Quit magnifying what is wrong in the world – This is one thing many do not recognize as harmful. How often do we rebroadcast what we have not verified to be true, thus inadvertently spreading misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech? Or how many times do we talk more about bad news from the television stations than the good news? Let us embrace more optimism and busy our minds with the words of St. Paul to the Philippians 4:13: “Whatever is true, chaste, just, holy, worthy to be loved, good repute…meditate on these.” This is not to say that we should not be aware of the things going wrong in the world, but the critical question is, what am I doing with this knowledge? Am I magnifying these things?

 

5. Quit overdoing it – Virtue lies in the middle, says Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher. What are you overdoing at the expense of family time and making time for God? It is important to embrace rest, relaxation and prioritization as part of growth, productivity and wellness. Matthew 11:28-30: "Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden." Ecclesiastes 3:1 also says, "For everything there is a season." How about quitting overdoing social media? Overworking? Just to make out for more time with God in 2025. May the Lord help us.

 

6. Quit trying to please people – Whose approval do you seek? God or human? Is getting human approval a top priority at the expense of what God has called you to do? Being a people pleaser saps one of energy and focus. God should be number one in our lives. Whatever costs you, your relationship and peace with God is too expensive. We shouldn’t live for people but for God. Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now persuading men or God? Or am I seeking to please men? If I still were pleasing men, then I would not be a servant of Christ.” Likewise, Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men.” As Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, tells us, we have an intrinsic worth; others do not determine our worth, so let us be authentic.

 

7. Quit overthinking – Think less and learn to lean on and hear more from God. Overthinking saps energy. Leave it all at the Lord’s feet; let Him take care of it. “Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil,” Matthew 6:34.

 

Happy New Year 2025!