I always love this time of year. The turn of the New Year brings with it a sense of excitement and a fresh call to begin again. It is almost as if the slate is wiped clean and we get the opportunity to paint a beautiful new masterpiece of values, goals and action.
I say “almost” because I never want to discount the role of our past in our lives. While our past never completely determines our future, it does have an impact that we cannot simply shrug off. It’s there; no need to deny it.
This is especially true when we reflect back over the good things of our recent past. What went well for you in 2011? Take those things and use them as jumping off points in 2012. This, my friends, is the proper use of our past in our present and future.
With this being said, it is the goal of this post to give you three new beginnings for your consideration as you work and live and play in 2012.
1. Being willing to set sacrifices as well as goals.
I have written previously about the idea of New Year = new goals. While I would never discount the importance of goals, I think those goals need to be coupled with the need for sacrifice.
It is a simple yet powerful truth: We cannot be everywhere doing everything for everyone all the time.
The idea is this: For many of you, your life is too full already and for any new goals to succeed, you must be willing to sacrifice something.
Maybe it is:
Be willing to sacrifice something along the line this year for the greater good of new goals.
2. Staying focused.
I have seen too many people get side-tracked from their new beginnings because of lack of focus.
You must decide how much your goals really do mean to you and how much time and effort you are willing to put into them – and then you must laser focus your mind and your action on achieving them. Focus is key.
Do not let every new shiny thing distract you.
Focus your mind daily on the task at hand.
Focus your action to each specific step along the way.
Stay focused – you deserve it.
3. Being consistent.
Being consistent is one of my favorite character traits in a person. I like consistent people.
Consistency brings up other powerful character traits like:
The good news is that the more focused you are, the more consistent you become.
People depend on you. Your family, friends and business relationships want you to be consistent. They want to know that the positive things you do you will do over and over again.
It’s all about being consistent if you are to have wonderful new beginnings in 2012.
Let’s embrace the new year ahead together.
DeLores
What are you excited about in 2012? What are your new beginnings? What are you doing to ensure that they come to fruition?
