At the beginning of each year, we as a general rule, tend to look back and plan for the future.
We tend to think that with the chime of the clock turning to a new calendar year, we are given the opportunity to turn our backs on last year’s mistakes, misses and oops'. We look forward to the newness of the new year and declare to the world, that THIS is the year that you will get your act together. ‘This is the year that I will finally …….!’ Good for you. Really, it is a good thing. It sure beats the alternative. The option being, that there is a group of people with the opposite viewpoint. “What’s the point? I didn’t accomplish my goals last year, so why bother setting myself up for failure this year!”
I am with you, though.
Hooray, for a new year. Hooray, for the chance to start again. Hooray, that I get the chance to try again to complete my goals.
I am really looking forward to the whole journey. Not just the completion of my goals, but the whole process. I like to check things off of my list. I like to look back and even if I didn’t do all that I set out to last year, I did do some of my list and that feels great. A little growth is better than no growth. BUT, and here is the but, not everyone feels this way. Truly, there is a large portion of the public that will cross their arms, put on a scowl, dig in their heels and will be grumpy and defiant about starting again. How do we deal with these people? Especially when they are close friends or family.
This is one of the most difficult things to deal with when you are trying to change something. Have you ever noticed how some people are proud of the fact that they haven’t changed? There are people out there that wear that fact with pride. Those people have never moved, haven’t changed jobs in a really long time, still drive the same car, still have the same hair style and even still fit into clothes from school. Some of that is great, they are thrifty, blessed with a great job, have a good mechanic, and even have a patient hairdresser. Some of that has consequences. Maybe they actually hate their job, but are afraid to make the change. Maybe they can’t afford a new car. Maybe the house is heavily mortgaged. Whatever the reason, change is not an option for some people.
Personally, I like change. I have moved homes a few times. Driven lots of different cars. I love sitting in my hairdresser’s chair and saying “shave it all off”, she never does, but she knows that I am ready for change. After all it’s hair, it will grow. Without change, I would have never seen some of the greatest cities in the world. I would have never known what it was like to drive a Porsche. I would never have known that grapefruit from Tahiti tastes nothing like the grapefruits imported to Vancouver from Florida. I would never have known that a little purple in my hair has become one of my favorite styles that I have ever done.
It hasn’t all been great. Some changes have cost us as well. We lost some friends when we moved neighborhoods. We missed out on saying goodbye to a good friend when she passed on and we were away. We lost all of our savings when we risked big with a new company and it eventually collapsed. But without change, I would never have found out that I like to write to you. I really love blogging.
How, then, do you decide to change and subsequently deal with the people in the ‘no change zone’.
1. Just decide to do it anyway.
- Stay firm on your reasons for change
2. Put some distance between you and the nay sayers.
- Spend just a little less time with these people
3. Share a little less about your change
- If ‘they’ don’t know what you are up to, they can’t bash it.
4. Find people that do support your change
- Surround yourself with people that will empower you, like us at Q4fit.
5. Bring your negative cheer squad along for the ride.
- You may actually convert some of the negative to positive.
Bring on the new year and the new you. It will all be worth it. It won’t all be easy and if it is an ambitious goal, it will be harder than you thought it would be, but it will all be the best year yet. Keep in mind, you don’t know who is watching you. Who knows, you may be the inspiration someone has been looking for.
Good Luck and keep us close. Bring us along for the ride and keep us updated. We will be there for you in any way we can be. If you want help and or support let us know.
Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. – Oprah Winfrey
