Happy New Year
A year like no other has just passed.
2020 brought Covid, death, destruction, fires, hurricanes, storms, racial inequity, earthquakes, job losses, blizzards, killer bees, unrest, climate change, political fighting, mental health crisis…a never-ending list of awful. For me personally, the unexpected and sudden loss of my mom made 2020 the worst year I have ever experienced.
Despite all of the stress and bad news, I am always trying to look for the positives. Less travel let me have more time doing other things. The year was less harried and allowed more reflection and introspection.
A year like the one we experienced made me even more grateful for the small things. I am noticing more, too, able to take in minute details I would otherwise miss in the rush into traffic. (I’m also grateful for less traffic!)
The Magic of Change
I have lost count of how many people have told me that they cannot wait until the new year. It’s as if they think the pandemic will disappear completely after midnight, and we will be awakened from a bad dream. Instead of packing masks, we will pack suitcases and enjoy vacations. We will be free from social distancing and allowed back into our favorite restaurants. The day when we can pack into a seminar and enjoy a crowded concert. Or return to the stadium for a football game.
I wondered what these same people would say when the year changed, but these things did not magically happen at midnight. Now that the new year has arrived, will these people sink into depression or think another year is lost and hope for 2022?
Don’t Wait for Things to Change
What will really change?
Jim Rohn was once asked to predict what will happen in the next century. His answer was “not much.” He said things would be about the same. Winter will follow fall. Summer will follow spring. What happened for the last few thousand years, he said, would likely happen again. The sun will come up in the morning. It will go down in the evening. “Not to think so,” he said, “is naïve.”
But then he provided hope by saying, “Look, if you want things to change, you have to change. If you will change, everything will change for you.”
And that’s the magic of personal development and success. It’s not “out there” that matters. Don’t worry about what you cannot control.
We can’t control everything that happens, but we can seize control of our thoughts, master our habits, and change our future.
As Jim said, “If you change, everything will change for you.”
The Year Ahead
And so I look forward to 2021 and all it will bring, not because I think the world will suddenly change, but because I know that I have the ability to bring my own change. I’m going to fill my days with positive influences, read great quotes, listen to positive podcasts, and develop my skills. Weeding the garden of my mind of negativity and fertilizing it with positivity will result in a bountiful harvest.
That’s my hope for you, too. A year of personal development and change that creates lasting success for you and those you love.
Before I sign off on this post, I want to say how much I appreciate you for reading, for listening, for writing, for sharing, and for being part of this community on the journey to be the best you can be. I’m especially grateful for those who have left positive reviews about my book or Aim Higher podcast. It motivates me to want to do more to serve you.
Here’s to creating magic in 2021 and beyond!
The magic for you or for someone you love starts here!
Image Credit: Greg Rakozy
