Five simple steps to transition into the New Year

The past year has come to a close, and we are at the beginning a fresh New Year! Many of you would prefer not to think about the last year. You want to think that this transition to the New Year brings a time of promise, excitement and renewed dedication to achieve your goals.

Before you focus on strategizing and making new year’s resolutions, I want you to think about clearing your mindset from negativity. To ensure you move forward this year with positivity and effective energy to accomplish your dreams, I want to suggest some steps that can help you in transitioning to the new year.

Step 1: List Your Positive Accomplishments from the Past Year

As you reflect on the past year, start by focusing on the positive. Not everything was negative this past year. Think about how you have grown during the year. Look at all that you have achieved, both big and small.

Consider where you started from at the beginning of the year and how you have positively grown and achieved your goals throughout the year. List everything positive you have accomplished this year and place them somewhere you can review and be reminded of them. 

Consider:

• healthy new habits

• new relationships and friendships

• starting new hobbies, jobs or practices

• sticking to healthy nutrition and lifestyle choices

• maintaining a positive outlook in the midst of chaos

• coping with stress in a constructive manner

• taking a new class

• volunteering

• spending time with those you love in new ways

• helping the environment

• making choices that support your health

Step 2: List Your Major Setbacks from the Past Year

Once you have clearly recalled all the positive accomplishments you achieved this year, shift to explore the setbacks you suffered. It was a difficult year. Don’t minimize the difficulties. List situations and events that were disappointing, upsetting or out of alignment with your desired course. This is not meant to obsess about mistakes or become stuck in the negative, but instead as an opportunity to recognize your resiliency and the gifts and lessons even in difficult times.

As you look at any setbacks, consider those that are directly in your control as well as situations which you didn’t have control over. List any major setbacks that stand out to you.

Step 3: Uncover the Lessons Learned from Your Setbacks

To avoid getting bogged down or depressed by the negative events which have occurred, take some time to reframe the outcomes. Explore each major setback you have listed and uncover the lessons you have learned from that experience. Take a step back from the pain and hurt and see if you can objectively look at each situation.

Ask yourself:

• What did I learn?

• How can I apply these lessons to my future behavior to avoid similar outcomes or cope with situations differently?

• How could I process this experience differently?

• How would I like to choose to react to similar situations in the future?

• Is there anything I can do to prepare for similar events in the future?

Step 4: Have Gratitude for Your Lessons Learned

Expressing gratitude for life’s lessons and your experiences of them helps you acknowledge your lessons and move forward in a positive direction. 

Recalling and expressing gratitude for your proven successes and positive experiences is a great way to boost confidence and positivity as you face new challenges and conquer fresh experiences.

Showing gratitude for lessons received through difficult experiences helps you move forward with greater insight and wisdom to use the experience to serve others. It also helps to conquer fear. Fear will not help you in your transition to the New Year. It will only paralyze you.

On the other hand, gratitude and the power of appreciation are a key part for wellness and powerful stress management strategies, which will boost your immune system and help keep you healthier. A mindset of growth and positivity will propel you toward a positive year

Step 5: Keep an Open Mind and Positive Outlook for the New Year

As you work through these steps you are clearing space and building energy to conquer new challenges.

Taking the time to process experiences and emotions will allow you to wipe the slate clean, let go of the past and explore new possibilities for the future with an open mind and a positive heart. 

Support and accountability are key to crafting a well-thought-out plan and keeping up the strength, confidence and energy to stick with transitions, growth, and setbacks. That is why at the beginning of the year I have cleared a few coveted spots for coaching leaders who want to have a smoother transition into the new year. This can be executive coaching or personal/relationship coaching.

Reaching out to a trusted partner can helps us clarify our goals, take a realistic approach and overcome mindset hurdles and challenges that arise along the way. Investing in coaching to keep you accountable and provide support will keep you engaged and change the whole experience of achieving your New Year goals for the better!

But hurry! I only have 5 spots left and when they are gone, they are gone! Schedule an introductory strategic session right in my calendar: