The Year Ahead
Happy New Year's Eve, everyone!
As the closing of 2020 comes to an end, and the excitement and anticipation of 2021 approaches, I am always reminded to reflect back on the past year and create a plan for the new year, to ensure greater outcomes.
2020 was a challenging and strange year indeed for everyone. On one hand it feels natural to think "where did the year go?" Yet on the other hand it feels like it was "the longest year ever!" COVID-19 forever changed our world and how we go about our lives on a day-to-day basis. We had to endure "stay-at-home" orders, home schooling, and remote work-from-home. Some companies and businesses struggled to survive, with tons of layoffs and closures causing record-setting unemployment. We experienced Quarantine, Social Distancing protocols, Zoom meetings and gatherings, and garnered face masks as our new fashion accessory. We had some cancelled sporting event seasons all-together, some shortened seasons, and often the ones that did happen were crowd-less or the attendance reduced to a minimum. The world faced social injustice and racial tension, rioting & looting. Along with all of that we had the pandemonium that always seems to circulate around a Presidential election year.
But even through all of that craziness, there were some positives that surfaced as a result. Many took time to self-reflect. Some worked on making health improvements in their lives, by eating better, working out more, and just trying to focus on the positive. Many reached out to do their part to help and to make a positive difference in other people's lives. Things that we often take for granted became of more importance. Especially some of the things that should be most important to us, like our health, our environment and the people who are important in our lives.
Needless to say, things likely didn't go as planned. If we made new year's resolutions heading into 2020, most of them likely changed as the year progressed. How was this year for you? Did you accomplish any of the things you set out to do from the beginning, despite all that happened? If you are like most people, I would venture to guess that you have not. But that's ok. To be honest, I have never been a fan of setting "New Year's" resolutions. How many of you have, once a year, set New Year's resolutions only to let them fall short only a couple of months into the year? Why do we have to wait until January 1st to set new goals for ourselves anyway? Why wait until the New Year, every year?
Now is the time for change. A change in how we do things. A change in how we think about things. A change in our habits. If you are not getting the results you want, DO NOT continue to do the same things, over and over and over again. Albert Einstein once said that "Insanity" is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. I say, instead of creating New Year's resolutions once a year, focus on creating new positive habits daily, that will turn the upcoming year into "A Year of New Resolutions!" Something new, or improved in your life, daily.
First things first, you must decide what you want. What do you want to accomplish in the next 6, 12, 18 months? What type of life do you want to live? Where are you now as opposed to where you want to be? These are the million dollar questions. You must actively think of, and decide what you want in life. Otherwise, how will you know if you are on the right path to achieve it? But the key is to REALLY want it! If you want to obtain the "perfect weight". Unless you REALLY want it you will never accomplish it. You have to make that DECISION first. Once you decide, make sure you have a CLEAR VISION of how this outcome will feel and look. This becomes your roadmap and pull-power to carry you through!
Next, focus on the power of NOW. Live in the moment. Know that today is the day to begin. Your past does not equal your future, unless you live in it. Several years ago, I remember watching my youngest boy wake up on a cold, early Saturday morning. The first thing he wanted to do was play with his Lego blocks. He had no doubt in his mind what he wanted to do. He had gotten himself dressed and had his t-shirt on, inside out and backwards. He also put on two different color socks. But he didn't care. It didn't matter. He was in the NOW. He wasn't waiting for things to be perfect, he didn't care that it was a cold morning, he didn't have to eat first, he didn't care what other people thought. Whatever he was doing at that time was exactly what he was "supposed" to be doing, at that moment, in his mind. So many adults are waiting for things or situations to be "perfect" before they accomplish what they set out to do. Motivational speaker, Jack Canfield used this analogy; he stated "Out of these numbers what is missing? 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10." After hearing various answers he concluded that NOTHING is missing out of THOSE numbers, THEY are all there. People are so caught up in what they "think" is missing, that they fail to see what is right there. YOU have everything you need RIGHT NOW, to succeed. Don't wait. We should all learn a lesson from the toddlers...just DO IT.
Next, TAKE ACTION! You cannot accomplish anything without doing something. A good idea is only that...a good idea...without action. Once you have set a goal, make a massive list of things you can do - to help accomplish that goal. Break it down into small manageable tasks. And then work on accomplishing at least one thing that list daily!
Finally, you have to BELIEVE. Believe you can do it. Believe in yourself, believe in your dreams and goals, believe you deserve them, believe you can and will achieve them, and you will. Stay positive and stay focused and you will see results.
Preparation for the new year, and EVERY day that lies ahead of you starts NOW, today! Do not wait. This can be a daily event, not just once a year. So, once again, THIS COMING YEAR, instead of setting "New Year's Resolutions" let's all make this "The YEAR of New Resolutions".
"An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves." Either way it sounds like a reason to celebrate! But I guarantee you...the optimist enjoys it more! Before we pop the champagne and celebrate the New Year, let's take a moment to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by: Our triumphs & our missteps, our promises made & broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what New Year's eve is all about…getting another chance. The chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And to stop worrying about 'what ifs' & start embracing 'what can be'. So when that ball drops at midnight, let's remember to be kind to each other. Not just tonight but all year long.
Here's to helping you accomplish and achieve the life you deserve! Make the rest of your life, the best of your life! Here's to wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Make today great!
Curtis
"What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year." - Vern McLellan
Comments
Post a Comment