Ok, the new year 2017 is here. Everyone is wishing – Happy New Year! You may be really thinking - New? What’s new? Same school, same job (or no job!), same house, same challenges...same old me! Nothing is really new except the date on the calendar. The question really - Is the “same old” working for you? If it is, that’s awesome! You are blessed. But if it is not, then something somewhere has to change. And who is going to make the change for you? YOU and only YOU.
On the other hand, you may be at a place where too many things are changing at break-neck speed. Way too many moving pieces! You are wondering – How am I going to deal with all this? Who can make this work? Me? Yes, YOU again!
What can I change?
Almost anything. Well, one cannot immediately change elected head of state (pun intended!). Although, there may be a lot you cannot alter, there is also a great deal you can. It could even be a simple change in perspective - looking at the glass half full rather than half empty. There is a prayer that goes as follows – “Give me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, courage to change what I can and wisdom to know the difference.” Try and find at least a small bit of your immense wisdom.
Where do I begin?
Pick one BIG thing
Instead of making a mile-long list of new year resolutions, just pick one big thing to change. This is sometimes called the “Keystone Behavior”. Usually, it will cascade into mini changes and this breaking up into smaller goals works well. For e.g. if you decide that my health is going to be my number one priority, you will perhaps drink more water, follow a proper diet, get regular health checks, make it a point to exercise regularly and even meditate every day. That’s five goals!
Remember – Baby Steps
Don’t rush into or make drastic changes right away. Make that one small change – regularly, consistently. How this strategy really helps is that it eases things into a comfortable pace and also could prevent you from a rebound.
Optimism
This may be a tough one to adopt but optimism really helps. Positive psychology is not just a theory. Make an effort to just believe that things are possible and work towards it. “Work” being the key word. If you just sit around waiting for things to happen, you may be waiting for quite a while.
ASK for help
If you need help figuring out stuff, please simply ask. Unless you ask, no one is going to have a premonition to know that you need help. Their assumption is that you know what you are doing. And if you do ask, there a may be a million people ready to jump in! Find the expert to work with you. If you want to lose weight, get that trainer and/or nutritionist. If you want to learn Tai Chi or Reiki, find your teacher. If you want to change a personal habit or make that career change, find a counselor or coach. There is a whole world out there waiting to help you.
It is really my hope that you are able to define what is going to be your “new” this year. Make the change happen – whatever it may be. Quit that job and finally do your own thing. Write that book you always wanted to or take that solo road trip. Ditch that MBA and click away to become an award winning photographer. Whatever works for you. Be the person you really want to be. Gaze into the night sky and reach for your stars, the entire universe is yours to have!
Wish you all an incredibly awesome and epic 2017!