Your Story Continues – Make the Most of It.
When I was a child I used to think that every New Year brought me a clean slate and I could begin again and change and grow as my whims allowed.
As an adult, I still felt the New Year was a time of stock-taking and planning for change, but I was aware that my slate was no longer wiped free of the previous year. I learned that there are consequences in making changes, and that the major life issues that occur in one year are rarely gone just because we flip a calendar page. I also realized that the ‘fresh start’ mindset doesn’t have to happen on January 1st but can happen at anytime I choose.
Instead of feeling like I was starting a new book on my life, I was more cognizant of my continuing story.
The fact is a renewal of your mindset and even your situation can happen at any time. My new question I ask myself is: “What is the best I can do with the best I have now?”
Give yourself a fresh start. For me I think about those times of loss or disappointment from a disaster where I lost someone or something that really mattered in my life. Upon reflection I took into account the years when things went well financially and felt the strength of that financial confidence compared to the years of having to work yourself out of a hole.
We are all like that. Our lives seem to be fine one minute, and the next minute we are displaced by a forest fire that incinerates our home and all we cherished within it.
Another year dawns when we find ourselves starting life alone without our partner, whether through death or separation. Or we may have lost our job just as the year ended, and a new calendar of blank pages unfurls before us and we have no unearthly idea how we are going to fill it.
Start by asking yourself in all circumstances what it is that you really want to accomplish this year. What needs to change? Is it feasible that you will reach your goal? How will your goal impact on the others in your life, especially those who may be dependent on you?
Next consider the obstacles between you and what you want, and the ways you can overcome them. Then look at the advantages you have to achieve what you want, and plot how you will make the best use of them.
Make your plan and assign numbers of priorities to each step. Share your plan with those close to you and be open but not dissuaded by feedback. Prioritize your plan, and after receiving more feedback, revise it to incorporate the very best of what you can be.
Take some time to consider your finances. Whatever you want or plan to do, you will need stable finances and ask yourself if you have achieved that or if that is now your first priority.
Establish new habits for yourself so that they will adapt to your flexible life. Remember that it takes about a month for a new routine to stick with you and become part of your lifestyle.
If you need extra help in forming new and worthwhile habits, check out Steve Scott’s books about habits here: https://www.developgoodhabits.com/my-books/. I founded Habit Stacking really worked for me.
Once you have worked out the changes you need to make and established your new routines, you will be well on your way to carving out that new start for the new you.
And remember as you make your plans for change: do what you want, not what everyone else is doing.
Paula Morand is a leadership building, revenue boosting, strategy expanding keynote speaker, author and visionary. This dreaming big and being bold leadership expert and brand strategist brings her vibrant energy, humor and wisdom to ignite individuals, organizations and communities to lead change, growth and impact in a more bold fashion.
24 years, 27,000 clients, 34 countries, 15 books, former radio personality, 11x award winning entrepreneur and humorous emcee.
Check out Paula’s bestselling books on Amazon: “Bold Courage: How Owning Your Awesome Changes Everything”, “Dreaming BIG and Being BOLD: Inspiring stories from Trailblazers, Visionaries and Change Makers” book series; and due to be released in March 2018 “Bold Vision: A Leader’s Playbook for Managing Growth”.
For speaking inquiries email bookings@paulamorand.com or call toll-free 1-888-502-6317.