Happy New Year! It’s 2023!
Self-help experts, life coaches, and fitness gurus are advising us to get motivated and get moving to make all our dreams come true.
That shoe company is still telling us to “just do it.”
The last four years with a global pandemic, supply chain issues, inflation, and an attempt to overthrow our government have taken a toll on everyone.
We’ve lost loved ones, relationships, jobs, and even homes. We’ve had to redefine the way we interact with others, but the one thing we still have is hope.
“Hope springs eternal” is from An Essay on Man by Alexander Pope (1688-1744). The full quote is:
Hope springs eternal in the human breast:
Man, never is, but always to be blest.
The soul, uneasy and confined from home,
Rests and expatiates in a world to come.
This passage has been interpreted in many ways. Some believe Pope is telling us to remain hopeful no matter what happens. Others believe Pope is telling us that our hope is the afterlife where all will be well. Perhaps it’s a bit of both.
We’ll never know for sure, but hope is the most important thing we take with us when we move forward.
“It’s amazing how a little tomorrow can make up for a lot of yesterday.” John Guare (American playwright)
What do these quotes have to do with starting 2023 out right?
Before you rush into a new project or try to create a new you, stop and take a breath. Live in the moment. Enjoy the simple act of existing without looking at the 10 pounds that have somehow found their way onto your body, the gray hair that wasn’t there yesterday, or the new wrinkle on your forehead.
Don’t think of anything negative. Can you do it? It’s hard at first, but once you give in to the feeling of gratitude for the things you have or have been fortunate enough to experience, you invite hope back into your life.
You will never make lasting changes to your life until you accept the fact that there are positive and negative elements in your life. Denial is a powerful tool to keep us overworked, underpaid, out of shape, and unhappy.
Always start with the positives and build from a position of strength:
Maybe you’re a great cook and some subtle tweaks to the meals you prepare can help you shave off a few pounds, lower your blood pressure, blood sugar, or cholesterol.
You take a daily walk, so maybe you walk a little longer and add a few hills or stairs to the mix.
You visit your doctor when something is wrong, so maybe you get back on track with your wellness visits this year.
You are proud of yourself because you hold the door open for other people and say please and thank you. It’s okay to be proud of doing nice things as long as you don’t expect anything in return. Maybe you look for ways to volunteer a few hours a week to keep that good feeling going.
Once you listen to your own needs, maybe you make a point of listening to hear and not just to respond.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no “one size fits all” plan for life. You are the only person who can decide what will make your life better, and you are the only person responsible for sticking to your plan.
Life gets messy and even the best plans might require a detour. Breathe with me and appreciate this moment. Never stop hoping for the life you deserve.