Start The New Year Stronger Than Ever By Following This Simple Practice
What most people forget to do before the new year
We’re busy setting New Year’s Resolutions, buying party supplies, and choosing our evening attire as we prepare to usher in a new year and new decade. 2020 — another year tasked with the burden of carrying high hopes, aspirations and lofty desires. Another chance for us at the game of life. The moment the clock strikes twelve, we’re off to the races, celebrating a shiny new year, confetti and streamers lighting the atmosphere.
But as we wake up to the new dawn, the new day that is really January 1st, we realize it’s just another day. Maybe a more hungover one, but another day nonetheless. All of a sudden the realization that the holidays are over, the office awaits us tomorrow and it’s time to take down the Christmas tree. Everything is not so jolly anymore. It’s rather blue. But why?
Seeing the glass half full or half empty is always a matter of perspective. We set ourselves up for ambitious goals pinned to the start of a new year. We’re starting on empty and it’s daunting to know where to begin. But the real problem lies in overlooking one simple step.
First, we have to look back at the year that has passed and see all that we actually achieved.
Spending time over the holidays to measure your progress and celebrate all that you actually did in 2019 is critical to achieving your goals in the new year. Starting with the motivation of progress is far more effective than starting from scratch, which completely obliterates all that you did when setting up for whatever it is that you wish to achieve in 2020.
Often times we approach the new year feeling deflated because we are critical of what we did not achieve rather than taking the time to see all that we did achieve.
So start 2020 with momentum and motivation by asking yourself these 3 questions, which I have adapted from motivation coach, Marie Forleo.
- What Did I Do This Year That I Am Really Proud Of?
- What Were My Biggest Failures? What Are My Learning Lessons?
- What Can I Let Go Of? What No Longer Serves Me?
By answering these questions not only will you bring light to all that you accomplished this year, it will also light the fire on that blue January day to pick up right where you left off. So then what better way to spend the last day of the year than to draw up a thoughtful summary of the year and perhaps even the decade gone by. You’ll be sure to surprise yourself.
Happy New Year!
