I love the closing of one year and the excitement of a new one starting. To me, it literally feels like the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a brand new one. I lOVE that feeling. Who doesn’t? I’ve found one big problem with this though. It’s easy to allow ourselves to sink into the feeling that once the clock turns to a new year, suddenly and (magically) everything will be different. We know this isn’t true, but often so many of us live our lives this way and repeatedly tell ourselves this lie.
So, let’s set the record straight. When the clock turns t0 2023, absolutely nothing will be different. It won’t be different unless you decide for it to be different, and truthfully unless you take the action for it to be different. Living a life of “Going Further” and embodying the “Start Going Further” mentality isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. It’s real accountability. That’s why I’m writing this post in December, before the new year even begins. I think many of us could use this post (including me!).
Although this is a time for celebration and holiday gatherings (which I am totally all for!)—it’s also really important to view this time as a planning, preparation, goal-setting, launching time for the new year. How we end this year, will likely be very similar to how we start the next one. If you’re unhappy now, you’ll probably be unhappy in the new year. If you don’t feel like you’re living in your purpose and being intentional with your life right now, it’s likely that this feeling will also carry into the new year.
I want to tell you that you can achieve all that you want to and even more in 2023. I want to tell you that 2023 will be your very best year yet, full of many blessings. I don’t know that though. I can’t guarantee that for you, or even for myself. There’s much of this life that’s completely outside of our control and never guaranteed. I realize that more and more. Any of us can find ourselves in the midst of a hard season in life, at any time. Every day that we wake up and that we ourselves are healthy, our loves ones are, our basic needs of food, shelter, safety, etc. are met—is a day full of blessings that we should be immensely grateful for. This is why in my opinion, it’s even more crucial that we live our best, most fulfilled, and happiest lives—daily. Every day is a gift, and if you haven’t been as mindful of this as you could be this year, I want to really challenge you to embrace this in 2023.
So, what can we do as we begin to look onward to 2023? Instead of wishful thinking, we’ve got to really sit down with ourselves (literally!)and ponder over our life. And ask ourselves hard questions, because we can’t expect anyone else to. This is where accountability starts. Let’s not take for granted a second of life that we are given in 2023.
Are you happy with your Monday-Friday?
Do you feel fulfilled?
Are you really living in your purpose?
Are you going further in all areas of your life?
What goals are on your heart for the new year?
How can you become the next best version of yourself?
What experiences do you want to have, places you want to go, things you want to see?
Ponder over these questions, and begin to think about the 2023 version of you. It is my belief that we can all grow, change, and evolve—no matter what.