“The New Year is a painting not yet painted; a path not yet stepped on; a wing not yet taken off! Things haven’t happened as yet! Before the clock strikes twelve, remember that you are blessed with the ability to reshape your life!” ―Mehmet Murat ildan
There is nothing more exciting than a whole new year ahead of you. Think of all the amazing things about to unfold in the months to come! But, from what we’ve all experienced over the past couple of years, the year ahead is also filled with uncertainty.
How can we be assured this year will be better than last year, right from the start?
Be Open
As with everything in life, let’s start with our mindset. If we feel like the year is overwhelming and full of trials, we’re going to get precisely that. In contrast, if we start with thoughts of curiosity and focus instead on the opportunities that arise, we’re far more likely to have a wonderful year. What’s the crucial concept here? It’s to not look solely at just one area of life as our marker for success and happiness. Let’s widen our focus and find joy in every aspect of life. What does success look like with our job? In relationships? At home? With travel? As we think about these areas and mentally construct our year, pay attention to areas that bring excitement.
Let Go
You’re never going to move forward is you’re listening to the same old messages. Whatever you’re carrying with you, like past disappointments, failures, or even heavier baggage like tough decisions or harmful circumstances, needs to be left in the past. This decision must be a conscious choice made every day. Letting go means having room for new, better things in your life. That’s why this is so important. Have trouble letting go? Don’t be afraid to talk to someone for additional help if you need to.
Close Out the Past
Now that you have this fantastic vision of what’s to come, it’s time to shut the door to what’s holding you back. The last thing you need is to drag some old baggage into your new year. How to do this? It’s a relatively simple three-step process.
Ask yourself what your expectation was on whatever it is you’re holding onto.
Whatever you wanted didn’t happen, or you wouldn’t be holding onto it now. Answer this question: what happened instead?
Now ask yourself what you can take away from the experience? Find the lesson to be learned in that situation. This step is essential because you will use it to move on.
Once you’ve processed all this, you’re ready to leave the past behind and move forward into your bright new future.
Set Goals
What does this future involve? Here’s where you need your goals, the more specific, the better. A good goal is something you can measure somehow and is relevant to what you want to accomplish in your life.
Understand the Dream
These goals need to be attached to something bigger. What’s the big picture? If you don’t understand this, you’ll never keep those smaller goals alive in the year to come. Knowing the why is what’s going to give you the motivation to move on. For example, you might have the goal of quitting smoking. Why? Maybe you want to be healthier for the sake of being there for your kids as they grow up. Dreams are what keep us going.
What’s Important Today
Big goals are great, but sometimes they make it hard to see what you need to do right now. Today the goal is to focus on what needs doing here and now. Start each day with a set idea in mind of where your focus should be right now.
Drop the Distractions
How can you get anything done today if you’re caught in a mire of social media, email, and text messages? Today make the goal to put your attention where it matters most. Try turning off the internet for an hour or two to get some work done if it helps you to focus.
Decide Who You Are
Did you know it’s ok to create a fresh new you at the start of every day? This method comes from realizing just who you are right now. What does the you of today need most? What benefits you in the here and now? Do what makes sense for you today.
Act
You have the roadmap, but it’s worthless if you never take action to get there. Schedule the steps needed to reach your goals, then do them. Simple, right?
Now, get to it. Every new day is fresh and unspoiled, waiting for you to create however you want. This magic is waiting to happen, with you in control of what happens next. Put these steps together, and you’ll have a year better than before, guaranteed!
