A fresh start: wrapping up 2020 and looking ahead.
Is it worth planning for the new year?
You might have asked yourself this question a few times lately, and you’re not the only one.
For many of us, 2020 has been a trainwreck. Scary things happened that were beyond our control and changed our lives in unexpected ways.
If there’s one thing 2020 taught us, it’s that life is unpredictable and we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. So with that in mind, is it worth having goals for the following months? What if they don’t work out?
It’s normal and understandable to be a little anxious over a future we can’t see, especially with the way 2020 unfolded. Watching our goals/intentions not go to plan this year hasn’t been easy. But that shouldn’t stop us from looking ahead with optimism, and working in any way we can to make our intention and vision for our lives come true.
So how can we move past these fears, and be optimistic about 2021? Here are some tips for you to consider:
EVALUATE THE YEAR THROUGH A PROSITIVE LENS:
We can’t control many of the things that happen to us in life, but we can control our reaction towards them. We can choose to focus on how challenging 2020 has been, or we can choose to see the silver linings that it brought.
How about shifting our perspective a little bit, and looking back on the year through a positive lens?
This might seem like a bit of a stretch to you but if you take the time to reflect on the last few months, you’ll realise that a lot of beautiful things happened. Sometimes even in the midst of terrible things.
Perhaps you had no choice but to work from home and this was a struggle for you. The silver lining could be that working from home gave you more time to spend with your children. This is a realisation that many of us made during lockdown, that we could spend more time with our families. And if you think about it, isn’t this something worth being thankful for?
If you don’t know where to start, I suggest writing a list of good things that happened to you in 2020, and take some time to reflect on those.
A balance in perspective will make it easier for you to let the negative events of the last months go, and look ahead with optimism for 2021.
BE HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC:
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope” -Martin Luther King
If the events of 2020 brought you down on your knees and made you lose hope, know that you are not alone. But right now, you have a choice. You can choose to stay on your knees and live your life anxious and fearful, or you can choose hope.
This is easier said than done of course, and choosing hope doesn’t mean things will get better right away. But it’s an attitude you carry with you to make life’s events more bearable and to help you move forward. It’s what helps you give life another chance and to try and achieve your goals. So what will you choose?
TAKE THE LESSONS:
As challenging as 2020 has been, it’s taught us many valuable lessons, such as the importance of prioritizing what matters in life, spending more time with family and looking after ourselves through the practise of self-care. Lessons like these are lifelong, and shouldn’t just be practiced when life gets tough. So as we move onto the next year, carry the things you learned with you.
If working from home made you spend more time playing with your children, don’t give that up once you get back to work. This is also a good way of appreciating the good that can come out of a difficult situation, as it refines you and can turn you into a better person.
Be brave and courageous enough to make the life changes that feels right and good for you.
Maybe this year taught you that you dislike your job, and want to follow your passion instead. Don’t see that as wishful thinking, but a sign. It’s okay to change the direction of our lives and try new things. If 2020 taught you things about yourself, other people or your life in general, pay attention to those lessons and give yourself the permission to practise what you learned, even if it means making a drastic change.
SET REALISTIC GOALS:
It’s common for people to have goals/intentions for the new year and to feel motivated about achieving them at first, but then to fall back into old habits.
When you want to set goals, define them properly.
For example, if your objective is to lose weight, write how much you want to lose and by when. This will give you a boost in motivation. It’s also important to identify why you want to achieve your goals, and create a realistic plan of action to achieve them.
If you want to learn a new language for example, define why you want to learn the language, by when, and exactly what you’ll do to make this objective a reality.
If you have big goals, such as starting your own business, remember to break them into small chunks so you don’t feel overwhelmed. And be proud of yourself for every milestone you reach.
Remember that you don’t have to wait for a special day, time or month to make your goals a reality.
FINAL THOUGGHTS:
The year 2020 was tough! Everyone’s been affected in one way or another and right now, it’s difficult for many of us to look at the months ahead with optimism. Some of us have lost loved one’s, some have faced job loss and many have struggled with the virus themselves.
Allow yourself to grieve your losses and accept the hardships and struggles you dealt with. There is no time limit to grieving so take as long as you need. Once you’ve done this, it’s okay to let go and move on.
As long as you’re still breathing, there are countless opportunities that can and will open up for you, so give yourself permission to choose those opportunities.
If you need some help with clarifying your goals/intentions for the coming year, you could benefit from my coaching sessions. Please check out my website and find out more about the services I offer https://lifecoachingwithnarriman.co.za/