The power of conscious proactivity.
Happy 2019! It’s JMac, and yes, it’s been a full year since you’ve seen a newsletter from me. Oops, so much for my 2018 Resolutions . . .
On that note, let’s be super honest with each other. We all set out to do great things at the beginning of each new year. Some want to get in better physical shape, others want to build a business or a more cohesive and prosperous organization, and many want to simply take their lives – professional and otherwise – to a whole new level. This is what the shift into a new year reveals to us: greater awareness and conviction regarding our deepest desires.
Now here’s the catch:
Oftentimes we set these resolutions or intentions in reactionary mode. We say we want such and such, and we’re going to do such and such because we are sick, tired and intolerant of our current situations.
My observations reveal many adults spending the first half of December 31 reflecting on all the ways they failed throughout the year, and then spending the second half overindulging in food and drink to pacify themselves. Since the next day marks a new year, there is often a tendency to believe that they are going to combat those demons by committing to those resolutions one more time . . . the workout, the networking, the fill-in-the-blank.
So here’s what I’m proposing to any and all of you who care (or dare) to take a proactive leap into 2019:
1. Fondly place the pain points of the past into a mental scrapbook. Your past is nothing more than scraps of what you experienced – not who you ARE. Celebrate it. The good, the bad, the ugly, the gorgeous. Honor it for all its worth by giving it a proper home – a place where you can document and recall the marvels and the lessons, and then LET IT GO. You may have been more youthful yesterday, but you were also less wise. Give your disappointments to the great archives of history with a huge smile on your face.
2. Wake up grateful for who you are and where you are headed. When you open your eyes each morning, consciously shift your thoughts toward your goals, your vision. If you don’t have a clear vision, then there’s your new goal: create one. Your vision is a reflection of your best self stepping forward and boldly taking action. Always remember that what you focus on expands. Strive to be the best version of yourself everyday, and your aspirations will unfold with much greater ease.
3. Connect the dots between your desired vision and your current situation. Those dots are your plan. Name one action step for each dot, and there’s your map.
From there, execute one step at a time, always with the pure intention of a win-win. Do this, and you will leap with joy as you uncover and experience your true power in the process. You will naturally inspire others to follow.
Replace your cynicism with optimism, your doubt with faith, and your fear with courage. These are proactive decisions and actions. They are yours to own.
You are a leader. You are powerful – in all the right ways. And when you lose your way, I am always here to be your Sherpa, guiding you back to your greatest compass: your own inner wisdom. The space deep within you that already knows exactly what you need to be or do, moment by moment.
Here’s to your bold bravery to push yourself out of your comfort zone once and for all – Cheers!
