2019 is upon us and January is filled with the promise of new beginnings, changed habits, new versions of ourselves etc etc. Most people are seduced by the thought that the beginning of a new year will magically solve their problems and is the start of a new life.
Wrong.
While there is something auspicious about the beginning of the new year it’s the attitude you have to each and every day of the whole year that matters.
Here are some things that YOU need to do to make 2019 the best year of your life
Create a Vision
Why are you trying to achieve what you want to? Energy flows where your focus goes. The missions that you complete are to serve your vision. Create a vision board and engage with it daily. What your mind can perceive it can achieve.
Be Rigid on Your Goals But Flexible on Your Methods
Your determination and resilience to achieve your goals will continuously be tested throughout the entire year. A common mistake is people change their goals when something does not work out instead of changing the method. If a flower does not grow, you don’t change the flower you change the environment it grows in.
Be Mindful of Your Environment
The saying stated previously can be used to illustrate this point as well. You are the flower in this context, and if your environment is toxic then it will be a lot harder to achieve your goals. If you can not change everything then change what you can with the goal itself that you want to change your overall environment. Your environment includes people, let go of people who no longer serve you. Create healthy boundaries in your existing and new relationships both personally and professionally.
Be Selfish to Be Selfless
Practice what you preach, you need to take care of yourself physically, mentally and spiritually continuously. You need to work towards your own happiness so you can help others achieve their happiness.
Be Part of a Mastermind Group
You are who you surround yourself with. Being part of a mastermind group will help you grow in ways and achieve things you otherwise might never be able to on your own. They are a group of people you can consult with and gain support as and when needed.
Do and Learn – Stop Thinking and Start Doing
Action is the only way you are going to achieve anything you set out to do. While developing a strategy is important, it is only the actioning of the strategy that will give you results. You can’t learn how to actually swim until you get into the water. Take it one day at a time, ‘do and learn’ as well as ‘learn and do’.
Be Mindful of What You Are Consuming – Be Mindful of What You are Doing
We are consuming things consciously and unconsciously all day long so you need to develop awareness and mindfulness of what you are consuming and subsequently what you are doing. Daily evaluation is important as it allows you to understand what served you and what did not. What you feed your mind and body will directly impact your actions. Additionally what actions are you doing on a daily basis? What are your thinking and doing habits? Did you do what you said you would do?
Mindset Development
Everything is ultimately dictated by your mindset. Your mindset is the only thing that you have full control over. If you manage your perception, you manage your reality. Mind-feeding is crucial if you want to be happy and needs to be directly aligned with your goals, dreams and vision. Your mind is like nature, you need to continuously nourish it in order for it to grow and bear fruit. You will also go through cycles which is all part of the process.
Be a Good Student
Those who are successful are the best students. This is not about being humble and downplaying your success. However it is about understanding that the better the student you are the greater the success you will achieve. You are always learning, and there will never come a time where you have learnt everything. No matter how old you are, no matter how experienced you are, there is always someone better that you can learn from. Also understand that every experience will teach you a valuable lesson that can only be gained through experience.
This also includes getting a coach and/or mentor. A coach and mentor does not only guide you, they help to grow you.
This year will either be the best year or worst year of your life. The only thing that will determine which it is – is YOU.