We are at that crossroad again – with one road pointing towards the year that has been and the other towards the year that has to be. The choice is not about which road to take – we’ll all move towards the new year ahead – it’s about the road we choose to look at, and focus on
If we choose to look at the year that has been, it seems like a crowded road – with memories and events, people and places. A plethora of emotions, successes, setbacks and learnings – it’s a road where we’ve attached meanings to events and stored our experiences as memories
And if we look at the year that has to be – it sparkles with ‘newness’ – the word itself implies possibilities and opportunities. The road looks like a clean slate that’s yet to be filled up. While it could mean uncertainties and unfamiliarity, it has the thrill of the risk and the chance of doing things differently
Again, we have a choice.
If we move forward while looking backwards, we are sure to trip! The progress is going to be difficult. As they say, we cannot live our future facing the past!
And if we march ahead without a look back, we’re going unprepared into uncharted territory
We could have the best of both worlds (roads)! We can look at the past, gather all our resources – our good memories, learnings, successes and carry them into the future with us while focusing and looking ahead. That way, we are aware of where we’re headed and we have the ammunition of our experiences with us
So tell me,
- What habits, attitudes and memories do you want to carry with yourself from 2024 ?
- What habits, attitudes and memories do you want to leave behind?
- How will you make 2025 different from 2024?
- Which relationships do you definitely want to nurture in 2025?
- Which relationship can you let go of?
- What new skills do you want to develop in 2025?
- Which skills do you want to enhance?
- And the final one – my favorite – make a vision board and beneath each pic write what getting that would do for you. For eg – you want to run a marathon – get the pic that speaks to you and then beneath it, write what winning a marathon would do for you. (Idea taken from Dr Will Horton – Founder, NFNLP)
Once you do all this, it is brought from your unconscious to the conscious mind, and you will find yourself taking some action. It might be a good idea to look at these often and if it works for you, craft an action plan.
Don’t fret too much if your past record doesn’t support this pro-activeness. The past does belong to the past! Remember, we’re thinking afresh – the only thing that counts is that you decide to honor yourself by doing what you promise yourself.
The repeat action will follow because of the satisfaction/happiness you get by finishing what you promised yourself. You’ll feel capable and that is the best reinforcement!
So, here’s to happy new thoughts – let’s leave the baggage of the past, and as the clock intrepidly ticks on, lets step into our new and magical horizons!
Let’s have an AWESOME new year! 😊
Payal Talwar
With over 17 years of experience in the field of learning and development, Payal is a Life and Performance Coach, Life-skills Trainer, Educator and Administrator. Certified in Adult Learning, she’s a certified NLP Master Practitioner and NLP Trainer from NFNLP, U.S., along with being a certified Law of Attraction trainer and NLP Life and Performance coach. As the co-founder of WINGS Team, a dream that everyday achieves its goal of helping people empower themselves, Payal has coached and supported people from all walks of life in discovering their true potential.
A published author of three books, ‘Kanta Bai Pvt Ltd.’, ‘Me And My Middle Age’, and ‘How to Happy…’, Payal is a passionate advocate of sustainable living and conducts sessions on adopting zero plastic products, use of menstrual cups, composting and green energy usage. A proud army kid and wife, she firmly believes that Running as a passion and discipline has enriched her life.