We are celebrating another new year. It’s full of promise and possibility, just as advertised.
Yet some of us may still be scraping away the residue of the old. Some of us may still be figuring it out What to Do (and Not to Do) When Life Throws You a Curve Ball.
Either way, this is the time when our inboxes are flooded with inspirational messages about discovering what you really want in the new year. As well-intentioned as this encouragement is, we might silently admit that it falls a little flat.
The New Year Doesn’t Have to Mean a New You
Because perhaps, despite the new calendar page announcing January 2024, the timing seems a little off. Maybe you’re not quite ready to embark on your new dream. Maybe what’s on the horizon is still a little foggy.
It’s OK.
We can be truly hopeful and eager to make a difference without forcing ourselves to dream a bigger dream. And even though we are exhorted to have a Happy New Year, we can take the time we need to understand what that means.
One tool to make this easier to do is to accept the things that anchor you. Return to the basics that feel familiar and have served you well in the past.
The 7 R’s of the New Year’s Reset
As you lean into a “New Year’s reset,” explore a back-to-basics mindset by considering the following ideas.
To recover Ffrom all the grief and loss of 2023 by giving yourself grace and time to heal.
Reexamine your intentions for 2024, not to be confused with goals that don’t get to the heart of what we really want.
Resist the habit of sitting mindlessly in front of a screen and letting the noisy world take over.
Repeat daily rituals that make you happy, with special attention to good food, lots of rest and as much laughter as possible.
Revisit the wisdom of your teachers… authors, artists, mentors, all or some of the above.
Re-engage move in the way that suits your body.
Back to your breathing, consciously and often.
Go at your own pace
There are countless ways to stay grounded before diving into something new, whether it’s at the start of the year or any day. Timing is everything and we are allowed to move at our own pace.
Whatever our pace, reappropriating the “fundamentals” that nourish us gives us the momentum necessary to move forward. Recognizing them informs us about how we might navigate the future.
So if you’re hitting pause on 2023, take an extra moment. Ask yourself what you are sure of, what is the right next step for you.
So consider 2024 as an opportunity to push Play. And what a delicious word to describe clearing the path to Joy for your dream of the year to find you!
Let’s have a conversation:
Do you have a few basics that keep you grounded? What will you revisit, repeat or do again as you welcome the New Year? Let’s chat!
