EXAMINE yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified. (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Many times, out of overexcitement or laxity, we tend to lose our guard and just allow circumstances to take control of our lives. That is why when faced with problems, many of us retreat, clam up, or retaliate against God. We forget to plan ahead and allocate our resources to properly address each need and other emergencies that arise. Sometimes, before checking our inner capacity to handle big concerns, we hastily make decisions especially when things appear favorable, only to step back when they turn sour. The results are half-baked projects and unfinished assignments: semi-concrete houses, semi-paved roads, semi-painted interiors, and many other semis.
We must accept the fact that things do not always happen the way we want them to. Thus, the first step we must take before making a decision is to analyze everything: situation analysis, problem analysis, decision analysis, and potential problem analysis. We must always think steps ahead and be prepared for contingencies in order to avoid wastage of time, efforts, and resources. We must also check the odds before starting a project to make sure we can finish it. This is not to discourage us from ever beginning new activities, but to challenge us to rise up from our level of incompetence and be aware of oppositions and adversities that may deter us from fulfilling our job.
Self-reflection, however, should not be an end itself. There are those who have over-analyzed their situation, becoming afraid to step out and begin what they must do.
This is not the type of self-reflection that we should adopt. Analyzing ourselves is meant to determine our strengths and areas for improvement, so we will know how to respond accurately to situations that may arise as a result of our decisions. Once we understand who we are, we will be at an edge when dealing with the consequences or repercussions of our actions.
Consequently, there will be no projects standing undone, except those deliberately left behind by cunning bureaucrats who intend to use them for future political purposes.
