New Beginnings & Impermanence
How do we let go? How do we release? We have no control in releasing this past year 2023 but we have full control in what we take from it. Good memories, lessons learned, new friends and accomplishments. What will you do differently in 2024?
I sit here reflecting about this past year. So much happened, so many challenges and yet when I begin to jot down all the good memories, new friendships, and accomplishments it turned the heaviness of 2023 into a celebration. For some, we tend to drown ourselves in the negativity, the unaccomplished goals and torment ourselves about our unfinished business. Truth be told we will always have unfinished business because life is a continuum of responsibilities and happenings. The better we get at letting go of what we can’t control and place our energy into that which we can, we will live a bit more at ease, at peace and in contentment. I challenge you to sit quietly and jot down everything you accomplished, everything that felt good in 2023, everything that mattered and made you happy. Focus on the feeling of being grateful for those moments and achievements. Take that good feeling into this new year.
New beginnings can mean a new job, a new relationship, picking up a new hobby or activity, a retirement, focusing on your well-being, redecorating your home or a room in your home. Where do you need a re-fresh? Do not fear, keep your eye on the desired outcome and be patient, always be patient with yourself and the process! On the other side of the coin, endings can be difficult and comes with challenges. Draw up a plan on how to deal with those challenges. But endings will also open space for new beginnings! Perspective!
Here are a few suggestions for embracing 2024:
Develop a new system on how you manage a daily task. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein
Manage your time before time manages you. A good plan in place includes setting time aside and being realistic about how much time a project or activity will take.
Divide the year into quarters and in that 90-day period establish a new habit.
Set time aside for things you love and matter. Perhaps you love to read and never find time for it anymore. Perhaps getting together with a friend hasn’t happened lately.
Take an inventory on how you spend each day. Are there time zappers you can eliminate in order to focus on more meaningful activities?
Life Plan – How’s your life going? Does it need to be recalibrated?
Be realistic about your current state of being and embrace the imperfect.
Be happy now! Not when you meet the one, not when you get the promotion or the house or the car or loose the weight. Be Happy Now!
Hire a coach to help you reach your goals. It can be a Lifestyle Coach, Financial Coach, Wellness Coach. Sometimes we need a little push and a little lift to get to where we want to be.
Include Self-Love and Self-Care into everyday living. This can be anything that reenergizes mind, body and soul.
Release the past to make space for something new to come forth.
Imagine more than what you think is possible for yourself.
Working on new beginnings can be exciting if you have the right attitude, mindset, tools and systems in place, including a support system (friends, family, coach, therapist, mentor). Life is built around “impermanence” the state or fact of lasting only a limited period of time. We know that change is unavoidable, that we never know when something will come to an end so I leave you with this: Be present in every moment for we do not know what tomorrow will bring, thus today, right now, wrap yourself in this very moment. May this new year “2024” bring to you new opportunities and remember that within every new day shines a new start.
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” – Alan Cohen
