Happy New Year everyone! Congratulations, you made it through another year. You survived 2021 with it's ever changing conditions and regulations. A unique year in which the Covid virus has been fundamental in determining the type of year many of us have experienced.
During the Pandemic, the world's population have all learned to count in Latin as Covid changes to it's fifth mutation, Omicron. On a more personal level, some of us have used this period to realign and develop ourselves by taking new courses. Some have focused on building relationships with others, and others have used this time to begin new things.
The major lesson that the last few years have taught me, is to be intentional about developing how my actions may or may not effect someone else. Funny how we see ourselves isn't it? Some have had the opportunity to work from home. A change which holds some positive and negative outcomes for all those effected.
Some have suffered bereavements due to after effects of Covid, which has left them with a new Chronic illness to deal with. There are many left in financial difficulties due to changes in the economy that have caused many businesses to close.
With all this change, don't you long for the predictability of life to flow the way we used to see as normal? I know I do. Oh, to go shopping without having to remember to wear a mask. To not be concerned if someone were to cough or sneeze near me. To be able to naturally show concern for another person with a spontaneous hug, without wondering in the back of your mind, whether this mild show of affection could prove to be dangerous to them or to me.
The world currently is topsy turvy dealing with a situation that it thought it would never see. However, even during this strange period in our lives, everywhere I look there are articles and blogs urging us to make a "New Year Resolution". I have often wondered whether this traditional practice is actually a healthy beginning to anyone's new year. Sounds a bit odd doesn't it? The goals we set ourselves at this time of year can be well meaning - and no doubt meant to instil a feeling of positivity to the year ahead. But is this practice as effective as we would think it?
In an article written by Brad Zomick, who writes online articles for a company called "Go Skills" entitled Top 10 most common New Years Resolutions (and how to follow them through) if your interested you can find the article here www.goskills.com/Soft-Skills/Resources/Top-10-new-years-resolutions. Zomick's list mentions 10 goals that are commonly used to start a New Year. These resolutions range from an individual exercising more, to wanting to read more books. All the resolutions listed, are all good and right things to achieve. But are these goals the types that instil real change to a persons' life? Zomick goes on to say that in reality, research from the the "Journal of Clinical Psychology" shows that, only in fact 46% of people actually achieve these goals. With only 4% of people attaining the full benefits of the goal they set at the beginning of the year. Those are some pretty depressing statistics.
Perhaps, if we made it a goal to take a more in depth look of the impact the year had upon us, naming the good and bad things that have made an in print on how we relate to the world around us. An instigator of the ability to do this, is to use the age old process of reflection.
According to the Affective Learning service, provided for students at Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh, reflection “reveal[s] anxieties, errors and weaknesses, as well as strengths and successes”. Looking at the things that went right or wrong - and recognizing what lessons you have learned, can be seen as more of a proactive way of identifying what goals you currently need to work on.
I remember going through a period of bullying in my life fairly recently. I had innately learned to ignore the situation, and push the effects of what it was doing to my wellbeing to the back of my mind. I wrongly believed that if I simply ignored what was happening, it would simply disappear. One year, I decided I would work on some of the issues that caused me to ignore the situation. That year I per-sued counselling, as the bullying had such an extreme effect on me that I was beginning to struggling with my Mental Health. It took several months of seeing a therapist to help me deal with the situation, but I learned to acknowledge the effects of the bullying and eventually dealt with it in a confident and proactive way. I became a stronger and healthier person as I chose to reflect upon the in depth things in my life that needed changing. I worked out a plan in order to make this possible, and eventually conjured up enough courage to take charge of a situation that could have caused me years of hurt, self doubt and unfulfillment.
Using reflection as a tool to achieve life changing goals can bring healing and strength to see the situation through and hope for a better future.
Some of the questions I asked myself during this period were;
What were some of the good things that happened last year?
What were some of the things that didn't go well last year?
What things or people made me happy?
What things or people made me sad?
Do I need help to work through the bad stuff or can I work though it on my own?
Who can I depend on to help me work through the problems? i.e. Friends, support groups, counselling, Mental Health therapies.
The above questions are just a quick snapshot of some of the things you can consider when you try to determine what one thing you can tackle this year that can bring you and those around you lasting change.
It's still not too late in the year, to determine the goal you need to work on, to enhance your wellbeing and attain the solution that can make a positive impact on your life for 2022. I challenge you to be brave and find the right goal, work through it, and ask for help if needed. At the end of the year, you'll be glad you did.
Article written by Alberta Gibbs
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