I've been reading a lot and listening to podcasts to help me prepare for the new year. I just wanted to share some gems that I picked up along the way.
This article offered five steps to mentally prepare for the year ahead. Two steps in particular struck a chord: "Let go of the past year" and "Honor your growth". We find it hard to accept that we may have outgrown things, or we refuse to understand why things that used to work for us aren't working anymore. Instead of resisting these things, we need to look at it as growth, not a personal flaw. Seeing changes like this as growth feels more positive. For instance, I've been looking at other workout program platforms, not only to save money, but to try something different. Plus, the company has been making changes that I don't agree with - why fix it if it's not broken - but they are experiencing their own growth, I guess, but I feel like it's time to part ways. And I think it will be good for my body to change things up and try new workouts with new trainers.
Also, going back to eating meat was a huge deal for me, even though my family and friends just shrugged their shoulders and said, "Okay." I'd made it out to be this big dramatic thing when it really wasn't. I outgrew a lifestyle that had worked for me for 15+ years but no longer made me feel good. Okay then, let's try something else.
I also read a couple of helpful, insightful books, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey and Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg. These books taught me to never put limits on my dreams and goals. Not only do I need to write down these goals, but also break them down into smaller steps to make them more feasible and attainable. I need to track my progress. I've been making notes and tracking data: what helps me sleep better, what foods make me feel more energetic? What workout moves bother my knees? I'm avoiding generic goals (I want to be healthy) and setting specific goals (I want to avoid fried foods and choose more fruits and vegetables). I'm setting attainable goals (I want to clean out my inbox by the end of January), but also set bigger, scarier goals (I want to do a 50-mile bike ride next summer.) And then I write down a plan: how will I get to this goal? (I'll delete or file away 100 emails from my inbox at the end of each day until my inbox is more manageable.)
I'm working on listening more and trying to understand viewpoints which don't align with mine. I'm working on my need to control and change things to meet my expectations. Just because I think or behave a certain way doesn't mean that everyone else should, too. And it's so hard to admit, out loud, that I've sometimes behaved with a sort of moral superiority and I'm ashamed to know that of myself. So instead of coming from a place of judgment, I'm trying to come from a place of empathy. After all, every person has a story. There's a reason why they are the way they are. I want to be more curious. Ask more questions. Make less assumptions.
I hope that the upcoming year will be one of valuable growth. While I don't want to get bogged down with self-improvement mumbo jumbo, I think it's important to review and evaluate where we've been and where we are now so that we know where we want to go moving forward.
And while I want to spend the upcoming year growing and learning, I also want to relax, laugh, and just have fun as much as possible.
Happy New Year! See you in 2024!
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