A New Year and the Old You

I’m going to start out on a negative statement here. Ready?

I’m not excited about this year.

OK! Now that I got that out of my system. Allow me the opportunity to follow up with something more positive. And I think I better hurry before you tune me out and give this blog the boot.

I’m excited about the pain.

OK. That didn’t sound any better. But if you’ll indulge me with the explanation as to why.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve done a lot of the same thing. Every year, for the past 4 years it seems, has had a very similar habit around this time. And if you’re like me, then chances are, you’re going through it too.

Here’s what I typically do around the end of the new year.

At the end of the year, I wrap it up with an inventory of things that I did the previous year (or current year, depending on how you look at it). I celebrate them and then do the exact opposite. I take a look at what I didn’t do, which typically is bigger than the list of positives, and kick my butt as to why I didn’t do it.

The usual suspect excuses and comments come by for a drink.

• I didn’t have time.

• I should’ve just done it.

• My podcast wasn’t good enough.

• I didn’t have the right equipment.

And in the end I tell myself the one thing that makes me not so excited about this year that is to come. Want to know what I tell myself?

“I’m gonna do it this time”

Aarrrgh! I could kick myself even now as I write it. How many times have I said those exact words at the exact same time (after Christmas and before New Years)? For the last four years I’ve created the same habit.

I create my inventory and tell myself I’m gonna do it this year. And can guess what happens next?

I don’t do it!

Ack! Just admitting that to you leaves a bad taste in my mouth, but it needs to be said because it’s the truth.

So then what? What do I do about it now? What do you do about it now that you know that there is another person in the world out there that is just like you.

Yes my friends, you and I are not alone. There are many of us lovesick people that are out there. Love smack, because that’s what we do. We love ourselves for what we did and then smack ourselves for what we didn’t.

In my podcast earlier this month, The New Year we are destined to repeat, I use the words punish and promise.

We punish ourselves for what we didn’t do and then promise ourselves that we will do a better job at it this year.

Why does this happen?

Why do I always do this?

OK. Before you take yourself down the rabbit hole of disgust and punish yourself again, let’s become aware of one thing. You are not that!!!

You are not your failure.

You are not a failure.

Instead, just know that you are quite the opposite. You and I are amazing human beings. We were the lucky ones, that made it this far and have our stories that make us who we are. All of that experience is a part of us and for that you should be proud.

Now take that pride and turn into the thing that is uniquely YOU! Let it be shown to everyone and let us all have the chance to experience and be touched by the thing that only you can touch (o.k. maybe that doesn’t sound right, but you know what I mean)

And whenever you need a lift me up, my promise to you, is to continue bringing positive messages like these for you to read.

Cheers!

JG