Without fail, there are always people who move into the New Year declaring it as “their year”, and committing themselves to a new chapter of success. I mean, almost all of us did it right before 2020. How could we not be excited about moving into a new decade?
Well. Obviously, no one could have seen 2020 coming. And though we made it through, many of us now hold trauma from the deeply heavy and unexpected events we endured throughout the past year. And after a year like that, it’s natural to feel uneasy about the vast unknown of a new chapter. But if 2020 taught us anything, it’s that we can’t predict the future, and sometimes our plans don’t unfold the way we imagined they would. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t make them at all. 2021 can still be your year! It’s all about perspective.
Having fear and hesitation is understandable. So, how can you be intentional while still honoring the lesson that we can’t control every moment?
First, create some goals for yourself. New Year resolutions can feel pointless sometimes, but setting aside an entire day to think seriously about what you want the next 365 days to look like for you is actually an excellent way to communicate your desires to the Universe and yourself. Write down where you would like to see yourself at the end of this year, goals you can set that would get you there, and action steps that can help you accomplish those goals day by day, week by week, and month by month. Create a vision board that reminds you of your goals every time you look at it.
Re-evaluate the people in your life, too. This doesn’t mean go on a “cutting people off” spree, but the older you get, the more important it is to keep people around you who make you feel inspired and loved. The pandemic has changed relationships and caused us to spend less time with the people we love. How can you show up for your loved ones this year when you can’t be with them physically? How do you feel that you need to be supported by your friends at this time in your life? Be honest, realistic, and decisive. If it’s going to be your year, you should be celebrated by your people.
Also, be proud of yourself! You may have set major goals for 2020 that didn’t all happen in the timeline you would’ve liked. But you did not waste a year. You lived every single day, and that means that it was your year! Survival is an accomplishment: it’s true for any year, but especially one like 2020 when so many people died tragically or met with unexpected hardship. Being hard on yourself about what you “achieved” in the midst of this chaos is counterproductive and exhibits a lack of compassion toward yourself. You don’t have to move into this new year with fear; call it your year! But also, reframe your understanding of what conquering a year means: it’s pushing through it, doing your best, growing in whatever ways you can, and ending it wiser than you were at the beginning of it.
Life teaches us lessons every day, so even if you sat still in your room until December 31st, you would have learned something. Be open to this learning and view it as an opportunity for success.