These days, I don’t think that most of us feel great about time. Time is always doing the wrong thing; it’s moving too fast or it’s going too slow. We rarely feel like “time is on our side”. The pressure to: “be on time”, “make up time” and “find time” is a relentless “TICK-TOCK” in our over-booked lives. But for all the pressure the passage of time puts on us, I would like to argue that at this time of year, when the calendar is about to slide from December into January, time becomes a quiet gift. Because the passage of a year is not just quantitatively different than the passage of an hour, or a day, a week, or a month – it is qualitatively different as well.When we pass into a new year – we celebrate that transition with parties and silly hats, giant dropping disco balls, fireworks and champagne. “Out with the old and in with the new” – we make resolutions and promises to make dramatic changes in our lives, and we welcome the opportunity to begin again with a fresh new slate.
“Happy New Year!!!”
And while celebrating is great, I would like to invite you to add a little quiet reflection to your annual celebration this year. Find a moment in these next couple of weeks to sit quietly, and review the year we are leaving behind. Take stock of the challenges that you faced along these last twelve months and the wins and triumphs that brought you through them. Spend a little time thinking about something you learned, someone who positively impacted you, a moment you are proud of and a beautiful experience that touched you. Savor and reflect – a year is a long time, a lot has happened and you have grown – spend some time acknowledging it.
Then when you are ready to start looking ahead at the new year on our doorstep, try to resist the pressure to make New Year’s resolutions. Instead slow it down a bit and delve a little deeper. Create a map for yourself that offers more substance and possibility for real success. It’s not as simple as making resolutions, it’s really about creating a map of goals, plans, intentions and then: working it, refining it, reworking it, retooling it and moving forward. So spend some time reflecting on where you’ve been and where you are now and then take the time to thoughtfully look forward to where you would like to be. If it feels right, you might consider hiring a coach to help you along your way; someone with whom you can explore your next best steps, what strengths you bring to the process and how to harness them, someone who will help you heighten your self-awareness, challenge you to think deeply and then hold you accountable for the plans you make.
We don’t need a change in the calendar year to make changes in our lives, but this time we can use the passage of time to our advantage. It is a natural touch point – a time to reflect, a time to dream and a time plan. This time, time IS on your side. Make the best of it.
Wishing you Happy Holidays and A Great New Year!
firebirdlifecoach
