I love the New Year.
To tell you the truth, I don’t look forward to Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even Talk Like a Pirate Day nearly as much as I do the New Year.
It’s not about the partying on New Year’s Eve, though; I’m in bed by 11, without a firecracker lit or a drop of champagne anywhere in sight. For me, the excitement is all about the anticipation of what’s ahead.
Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something salivatory about starting a brand new year… it’s like a fresh start, a clean slate… a chance to make exciting changes in your life.
Can’t you make change anytime? Sure, but a new calendar year adds a certain “credible amnesia” to the mix… you can act as if your past doesn’t have nearly the influence on you than it does, and try to get away with it…)
Aye, there’s the rub, isn’t it?
Each time New Year’s comes around, you’ve got the best of intentions to make positive change in your life, and you rely on the hope of “credible amnesia” to give you enough of a break to escape the gravity of your habitual momentum and personal history, and really, really triumph this time.
Right? Why else would a tradition like “New Year’s Resolutions” (which have an abysmally high failure rate, rivaled only in their scope of failure by the catastrophic myth of low-fat diets) continue to survive in as widespread a way as they do?
Let’s get honest.
If you try to just change your actions (“I’m going to exercise every day,” “I’m going to quit smoking,” “I’m going to stop eating ice cream every night,” “I’m not going to procrastinate anymore… starting tomorrow”), without changing the precursors of your actions (the feelings, beliefs, and fundamental world-views that drive them), how successful do you think you’re going to be?
Put it this way: if it worked, how many people wouldn’t have to be making the same resolutions year in and year out? The problem would’ve been solved already.
Now what — give up?
Oh, heck no. I’m way too much of an optimist to let go of my New Year’s Plans. And I hope you’re one, too, because the world needs us optimists.
And, you can do something about that old “momentum”, can’t you? Sure you can.
For starters, you can realize that hope—the feeling generated by the “credible amnesia”—is a good thing. It gives you energy and motivation to change, to examine the “road less traveled,” and wake up early/put down the fork/stop procrastinating, etc.
And, you can go into this with eyes wide open, realizing that there may also be some work to do in cleaning up the habits and patterns of your past.
How?
Be honest with yourself. Challenge your beliefs. Uncover those blind spots. Heal yourself. Get support.
The tools exist to make changes in how your past influences your present. And, you don’t have to go it alone; get help if you need it, from someone you trust.
After all, it’s a brand new year, right? Time to make the most of it!
New Year Healing Special: You know I couldn’t give this kind of pep talk about support and such without offering a way to make it happen, right?
If you recognize that you could use help in planning for the year ahead (with all the hopeful “credible amnesia” you can muster), as well as the support to heal the patterns and issues that keep you from realizing your dreams, then I’d like to help.
I’m going to open a limited number of spaces (four, most likely) in my consulting schedule to work with those of you who would like help with:
- establishing a 2008 vision, with strategic planning, scheduling help, time management and organizational help, etc.
- individual healing sessions to work through patterns/issues/stuck spots that either keep you from achieving your goals, or show themselves as you implement your plans
If this sounds like your cup of tea, or if you want more details about how consulting with me works, feel free to get in touch with me and we’ll talk.
Another option: Some of you may prefer a group environment to a one-on-one situation; for some, getting a group’s support and utilizing the momentum and accountability a group dynamic offers can be just the ticket to sustained growth.
While I’m trying to dedicate most of my time to creating the Internal Success DVD, I have time to facilitate a group of dedicated people who want to make 2008 a banner year… if you have interest in a group like this, one that meets twice a month as a group, with individual support, a forum, etc. (like a facilitated mastermind group), contact me, and if there’s sufficient interest, I’ll put a group together.
Want a podcast of this? Click here.
Image by 顔なし on Flickr, via Creative Commons license.
And thanks to all those who commented on the previous post so far: Coach Anne, Corinne Edwards, Vitor, Jean Browman
New Year’s has always been my favorite holiday, too…for the same reason as you mention. Mostly I’ve managed to make resolutions I know how to keep, but this year I’m not trying to make changes in my life. 2007 was a year of adventure for me, so I’m going to keep plugging along doing what I’ve been doing. When I do that I don’t have to make resolutions to live a life of adventure. The adventure comes to me.
I feel the same way about the Holidays — I prefer New Year’s — even though, like you, there will be no traditional partying for me…
tast
I love the energy of Beginnings.
I also relish that peculiar hush of the first morning of the New Year — a special pregnant quiet, a pause that’s the tip of something big beginning to peek through.
I suppose you must choose between the Ball Drop at Midnight or the Dawn that follows — sure you could technically stay UP for both, but what I’m describing feels most powerful when you awaken into it, rested, and ready…
It’s going to be one helluva rocking first cup of coffee tomorrow morning — here’s hoping you enjoy every sip of your first chai and all that’s to come in 2008!
Happy New Year, Adam!
I always feel propelled into the new year by the slowness of the holiday season. I have had my fill of relaxation and socializing and an good and ready to get on improving the business and personal side of my life.
Adam suggested to be honest with yourself. Challenge your beliefs. Uncover those blind spots. Heal yourself.
I would have to agree that this is the greatest work anyone can do to improve the quality of their lives. People tend to chase things, entertainment, or other people when happiness is not found outside of ones self but on the inside. If it is happiness you are seeking, then perhaps this is the year you will look for it on the inside rather than in the outer world.
Kind regards,
Michael Skowronski
Adam,
I won’t be partying tonight either. Those days are behind me. Thank God!
You make such a good point regarding the fact that real change must be accomplished through examining the underlying causes and beliefs that result in our behaviour.
Have a blessed 2008!
New year is a tricky period for me, this time around I’m experimenting with not doing any resolutions (check out my post explaining why). However I am certainly taking advantage of the momentum and the “energy of beginnings” that comes with a new year to refocus my efforts. I’ve always found that a basic new year’s resolution is a surefire way to lose all that momentum and energy usually within a week (that’s how long the average resolution lasts right?
)
As I expected, most readers here will be either “done” with NYR, or looking at them in a way that makes the traditional approach seem pretty empty. (I wouldn’t expect any less from you monks!)
Thanks, all, for sharing your viewpoints. Have a great New Year.
Love your site! I spent NYE in a yoga class. As 2007 ended we did inversions and then came right side up to view the new year with a new perspective! twas nice!
Like reading your blog Adam I just wonder why you made such strong statement as (catastrophic myth of low-fat diets).
Over the festive season we get more than enough opportunity to get animal fats and carb loaded goodies and you hear a lot of bloated people complain about pain from it, why advocate a diet choice that has far more possibility to produce the obese beings we are seeing in America and sadly here in Australia. Not that I am standing on a soapbox for any particular diet,but I do very well without milk and dead cow for tucker
Seeing in the New year is a happy and also sad time.
Some years you just think,where the hell did the year go ? another year older and what have I done (you know the song).
When the plans you worked on come to absolutely nothing,the tolling of the bell of midnight seems to give you a breath of hope that you have still time to reach your dreams, meet your sweetheart, scale the mountain.
We all know time is an illusion, so it is not the ticking of the clock that we bide our time to,it is the moment of now and the decisions we make, understanding that the outcomes are never sure or guaranteed it is all part of the journey here. Happy New moment to you all
Thanks, Sarena, and welcome to my online presence.
Your yoga class sounded like a great way to usher in the new year.
Russell, thanks; and yes, it was a strong statement about low-fat diets… because from what I’ve seen (and despite all the hype to the contrary), it’s not the fat that does people in, it’s all the sugars and carbs. It’s not exactly “PC” to say that, but hey… sometimes it’s good to rock the boat a little.
To be clear, I’m not saying gorge oneself on fats; moderation is wise. But there’s been such a low-fat panic, especially in the U.S., that disconnecting from that myth is often the first step… and then, learning about protein/carb ratios and all that comes next.
Oh, and I like your point about “the moment”, vs. the onslaught of time. Well made.