I have a theory that I wonder if you would agree with… That we all, at times, sense and want the emergence of a significantly better version of ourselves. Little things give it away like when we are grumpy, vindictive, or petty, and we say things like I am so sorry, I have no excuse for behaving so badly, or I know better.

Bear with me, while I offer a bit more evidence: that old familiar tradition at the start of every new year—New Year’s resolutions. I know what you are thinking. No one ever sticks to those and no better version of ourselves ever emerges from those. But what if we did? Would there not be the emergence of a significantly better version of ourselves? One that is likely at least a little healthier, happier, and more helpful to others?

Perhaps you are thinking, so what, even if your theory is true, the hard evidence shows that we seem to have some sort of paralysis when it comes to actually doing whatever needs to be done for this better version of ourselves to emerge.

Might there be a way for our paralysis to be overturned, to be, as it were, healed? What is at the root of the paralysis? What would it take to actually break the inertia and rise up from our paralysis, to see to the actual emergence of that better version of ourselves, version 2.0?

Is the paralysis caused by the weakness of our vision or imagination in dynamically picturing that better version? Or could it be that we picture it well enough, but our desire is too weak? Perhaps our vision and desire are fine but our will is too weak? That seems to fit. Or does it, since our will seems plenty strong to stay the same?

I would like you to consider the possibility that the only thing that frustrates the emergence of a better version of ourselves and paralyzes all of the new activity that would be necessary for such a version to emerge into reality is a new outlook in some key areas.

Oh brother, here it comes… another psychobabble success talk. No, I promise that is not true. What if all that was needed to strengthen my will and keep it full of powerful, enthusiastic energy was this aforementioned new outlook?

Let me get more specific. By a new outlook, I mean an entirely new view of what constitutes reality. A new way of thinking about things. A new way of seeing things. A new set of beliefs. None of it is irrational, contrived, or in any way unreasonable. Maybe you wonder, what are some of these new views? I would like to introduce six of them.

• A new way of viewing circumstances.
• A new way of viewing God. Yes, I said God.
• A new way of viewing Jesus.
• A new way of viewing myself.
• A new way of viewing others.
• Finally, a new way of viewing life itself.

It is these prevailing views that provide the dynamic energy necessary to empower the action required to bring forth the emergence of that better, 2.0 version of ourselves.
These views have the power to take that picture in our mind and imagination and those desires of our hearts for a better version of ourselves and bring them into reality.

Maybe an example might help to see how this works. We all remember the tragic attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. The scenes of people desperately trying to flee the burning, soon to collapse buildings and the people who made it to the street running away from the buildings as fast as they could.

Then there was another unforgettable scene. Firefighters, police, and first responders of every sort running towards the buildings, not away from them. Running into the buildings and climbing the stairs to the upper floors.

Now, how do we account for this kind heart-piercing heroism? Why did this horror bring out the stunningly beautiful, better version of them? It was all empowered by their authentic view of at least four of the six that I mentioned above. (I say four because I have no certain way of knowing their view of God or of Jesus). Consider the four views that we can be rather sure about:

First, they saw themselves as first responders, and therefore responsible to respond. Second, they saw themselves possessing unique potential to deal with the crisis, and they held their lives loosely. Third, they saw others as needing to be rescued and themselves as servants, duty bound to do everything possible to rescue as many as they could. Fourth, they saw their life in terms of their mission. Theirs was not just a job but a mission that they counted more important than their lives.

I say all of this because I want to invite you to take a journey with me and allow me to present an approximately 40-minute talk on each of the six key views. I will do one a week on Sundays at 10:00 am, but after that they will continue to be available on Facebook and YouTube at any time.

Give this New Year a chance to be significantly different, and more importantly, give yourself a chance for the emergence of the New You 2.0.