WHO WILL YOU BE IN 2023?
"The pages of your past cannot be rewritten but the pages of your tomorrow are blank."
Like a fresh, clean, snow-covered path, the new year is spread out before us!
Another day, another month, another year. Time to reflect, refresh, and renew. NEW BEGINNINGS can fill you with such a sense of renewed purpose and hope. But as I reflect on the past year, I realize that there is nothing magical about January 1st. Every day is a new opportunity for doing new things and gaining new perspectives.
Yet, January is the most popular month of the year in which people begin to contemplate about their lives. New Year’s resolutions dominate the topics of conversations. But resolutions rarely last beyond January. Why? Perhaps because we approach the change we seek from the wrong perspective. Rather than focusing on “what” we wish to change, we should look at “why” we want to change. It is necessary to Identify the things in life that truly matter the most to us.
We all like the NEW. We dedicate time to cleaning out their closets in January, replacing old clothes with new. We purge our homes, replacing worn and broken items with new shiny ones. There is something special about the newness of things. Whether it be an object, person, or idea, newness breeds excitement with the anticipation of something better. As we forge forward into 2023, we can be excited about new possibilities. But before we bid farewell to 2022 it would be wise to reflect on and evaluate our life’s experience over the past year. What went well? What did not go so well? What lessons did we learn? What can we do to make 2023 a better year? How will we manage new challenges? What will we take forward into the new year, what will we leave behind? How will we let go of losses to gain new things?
Creating a flourishing life in 2023 will require intentional focus and action. Nothing new grows out of neglect. So, who do you want to become in 2023? What really matters most to you? What are the core values that drive you to thrive? How can you nourish your life so that it flourishes?
These are the important questions we must ask ourselves.! It does not have to be a daunting task. This process is not about creating a list of next-to-impossible resolutions that never stick past January or February. It is about engaging in a thoughtful approach to the new year. Simply take time to think about, identify, and record what is important to you NOW in this current season of life. Different seasons will bring different priorities on which to focus. Never plan for a season you are not in. So, block time out in your schedule this week to ensure that you are beginning this new year with focused living, nourishing those things which you really wish to grow.
To help you in the process, I have created these simple worksheets to get you started. There is something powerful about writing down your thoughts. It helps the brain process information and clarifies what you really need.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! Be who you are meant to be in 2023!