A New Year....What's the Big Deal?

WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT A NEW YEAR?

It's OPPORTUNITY! Let’s face it, when we do the same things day after day, after day, at the same location, with the same people, it’s like a military drill “1,2,3,4,…1,2,3,4”. The job that once excited us, loses its zest. The people we love dearly start to grow on our nerves. The room we once looked at as an opportunity, and place to grow, can appear a prison cell.

We all have the ‘cement items’, in our lives. Cement items, are the things you must do each day, such as: Shower, work, appointments, school, kids, etc. They are the items we must tend to each day. The only way we can take a break from these ‘cement items’ is to actually schedule time off, and get our bases covered during our leave time.

Yes, schedule time off. You deserve it. You need it. Your family, friends, and loved ones will thank you for it, so long as you continue to give them their space, as well. You see, the only way you can get ‘The Big Picture’, of your life, is to take a few steps back, long enough to really examine what you’re doing with your life, time, finances, energy, love, talents, and goals.

People get too in the habit of living day to day, much like living paycheck to paycheck, and with the same results. You feel like you’re getting nowhere, just ‘getting by’. Well, if getting by is helping you reach your goals, making you successful in your area of expertise, and enriching your life and relationships, then keep at it. For most, this is not a working plan. This is why you need to take a break. Make time for a break. Express your needs to the people necessary in your life, and ask for their support. If you get their support, great, if not, you’ll have to go it alone.

When you’ve scheduled your time off, start making preparations on where you want to be during this allotted time. Perhaps, you have a few locations of solitude available to you. Take advantage of what you can, so long as it doesn’t add further stress to your life. Next, decide what your top five matters of importance are that you’d like to contemplate, maybe something like: self, relationships, work, study, future, goals and desires, for each category. Write your thoughts down. Next, write dates next to what you’d like to do, and approximately when. Finally, pencil in ‘why’ this is so important to you.  

WHY IS THIS TIME ALONE SO IMPORTANT?

It’s 2011 folks. Everyone’s lives are jam packed with much to do, we have plenty of responsibilities. Unless you take the time to see what you’re doing with your life, and other areas in your life, how will you ever be able to know what you desire for yourself in the future. It’s like running a relay race: I’m going to do this, no that, and eventually become frustrated because nothing was ever really thought out carefully, and prepared for.   

WHAT IF I JUST CAN’T GET AWAY FROM THE CEMENT?

You must have some time away from your ‘cement items’. Whether it’s a drive home alone, a few hours on a weekend, perhaps in the evening. Be diligent in using that time to assess your life, and future goals. Keep pen and paper with you at all times, write down the thoughts, ideas, people, places, and events that interest you. Ask yourself why they interest you.

LOOK AT WHAT YOU’D LIKE TO CHANGE

Examine the areas of your life that have lost their spark. Ask yourself, why? Is it time for a change? Most people fear change. People like security, habits, and comfort, there is nothing wrong with this. However, we must be brave enough, and honest enough to do a thorough examination of our lives to see if we’re truly on track or not.

Look at what’s working and why. Decide what you will do with what’s not working in your life. Should you replace it with something that will help you grow as a person, and bring you happiness, or find another way of dealing with it? Write it all down.

Indeed, a New Year, New Beginnings. Please, don’t let the mark of this New Year pass you by in staleness. Grab it tight, embrace its goodness, and step forward in faith. Make 2011 your year. Share your exciting results and progress with me on my blog, I’d love to hear from you.

Health!