The New Year is officially here, and while many people have or are making resolutions, I have chosen not to. Why? Because I view the New Year as a way to reset and rewind, circling back to things placed aside while also clearing my mind for the things to come. But, what does this mean, and why do I do it? I'm glad you asked.
You see, a year is both a long time and gone in a blink of an eye. Thus, many things planned become lost in the craziness of everyday life, which makes circling back to our forgotten and abandoned tasks ever so important.
Perhaps last year, you started a book that you had wanted to read for ages; for me, this was a book on the quantum universe. However, after only making it a couple of chapters, life got busy, and I set it aside.
So, to close out last year, I finished the book over the final days of 2021.
While for you, it may not be a book that you set aside, and instead, it was getting in better shape or remodeling your home, we all have interests and desires that disappear under the sands of the repetitional tasks. Regardless, I challenge you to look at the things in your life that have become forgotten.
Ponder for a moment and think. What are these dreams? Are they from last year, or perhaps from many years back? Once you have brought them back to the shoreline of the present, you are ready to continue.
Now, are these left behind interests still worth pursuing? I am guessing the answer is yes. So, how will you make them a reality? The answer lies in short-term goals.
For example, if it is a book you want to finish, start with reading five pages a day. Such an achievable task can make a thousand-page novel surmountable.
What if it was to get in better shape? Start with small increments, such as losing five pounds or increasing your jogging distance by 10%.
By breaking down bigger goals into smaller ones, losing thirty pounds or running a marathon becomes easy. And, by doing this, we can focus on the many tasks that are yet to come.
Life is full of unexpected detours, and when we try to fit too many things in, we can burn out and crash. Thus, leave room for the new experiences and hurdles yet to come while accomplishing things that have drifted away. I promise that the result will be a happier you; It just starts with trying, after all.
So, what will you make out of 2022? Start by writing down your forgotten goals and then break them down into smaller ones. Because as Lao-tse once said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
Have a wonderful New Year and for those already clients of Lundeen Abrams Advisors, please expect a call from Amy in the coming weeks. After all, what better way to revisit the past goals than by updating your financial plan?