Have a Good Start - Making New Year Resolutions for 2024

Let's learn from Proverbs 29.

Here is the mind map giving the key points:

All + All -

Wisdom for Living Well

• 1 Trust God
  • Pro 29:25 Fear can be a trap, but if you trust in the LORD, you will be safe.

    Fear paralyzes planning and action. Must be calm first. It comes from knowing, trusting, and seeking the Lord.

    • Prov 3 Methods of the Wise
    • 大学 知止.png
• 2 Accept Correction

  Growth Mindset

  • Pro 29:1 Some people refuse to bend when someone corrects them. Eventually they will break, and there will be no one to repair the damage.

    Listen and follow good advice. Don't be proud and fixed minded.

• 3 Don't Flatter insincerely
  • Pro 29:5 If you give false praise to others in order to get what you want, you are only setting a trap for yourself.

    false flattery does not work

• 4 Think before Speaking
  • Pro 29:20 There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

    think before you speak.

    • + - 三思而后行 think thrice before action
      • "思危，思退，思变。“
        • Think about the danger. (Risk Analysis, Prevention, and Management)
        • Think about withdrawal rather than advancing. An implication will be to do the inverse thinking.
        • Think about change. The external situation may change causing us to change our minds too,
      • Some say to think
        • about the advantages, the disadvantages and a final review before taking action.
      • Should it be said at all? (What is encouraging, meaningful, rational, and beneficial?)
      • Should it be said at this time? (When will be a better time?)
      • Should it be said by me? (Who will be a better person than me to say it?)
      • Ancient Chinese Wisdom teaches us about 天时地利人和 which tells us about
        • The right timing 天时
        • The right place 地利
        • The right relationships and harmony with people 人和.
• 5 Don't Politicize

  Let facts determine actions, not opinions

  • 5.1 Pro 29:8 Proud people who laugh at what is right， cause problems that divide whole cities, but people who are wise are able to calm those who are angry.

    Politicizing divides, truth brings freedom. John 8:31-21 The truth will set you free.

• 6 Deal with Fools
  • 6.1 Pro 29:9 If someone who is wise tries to settle a problem with a fool, the fool will argue and say stupid things, and they will never agree.

    Choose and Speak to your audience. Not everyone will want to listen to you. Matthew 7:6-7 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

    • to-answer-or-not-to-answer-it-all a fool.
      • Prov 26:1-10 Dealing with Fools