Kicking off a New Year never gets old for me. Even though the global pandemic and the rise of the Omicron variant have once again muted the sounds and reduced the size of celebration, this time of year still offers a prime opportunity for a fresh start.
If you feel “stuck” in the COVID time warp and are struggling to make plans for a future daunted by a lingering pandemic, use the magic of the calendar rolling over to a new year to discover what’s around the corner – HOPE!
Here are some ideas, to give a booster shot to your waning hope.
1 Remind Yourself of your strength
“You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” – Winnie the Pooh
Can you remember the stress and the sea of uncertainty swirling around us as the pandemic unfolded? It was difficult to see beyond the bleakness, but here we are, two years in, not only surviving but in some ways thriving.
Like constant rain, difficult experiences erode bits of us, but if you’re still standing you have a strong foundation. Each time we overcome a challenge, we grow better prepared to conquer the next.
We are only human, so yes, sometimes stress causes us to forget that we possess the ability to surmount any adversity. While the Omicron variant is multiplying faster than rabbits after partying in a carrot patch, experts predict the end of the pandemic is in sight.
CNN December 31, 2021 (Jacqueline Howard)
… the spread of coronavirus will eventually look and feel more like that of seasonal influenza.
The United States may be past the peak of Omicron cases around the end of January, some experts say; 2022 maybe when the coronavirus becomes “part of our background and it comes and goes,” Dr. Ofer Levy told CNN’s Alisyn Camerota this week.
Call me a crazy optimist, but I agree! We have overcome the worst of the pandemic. If nothing else, it has reaffirmed our pill-power and, more importantly, our willpower.
Reflect on the goodness present in your life
It is easy to appreciate the goodness in your life when things go well. And while it may seem counterintuitive, moments of crisis actually provide fertile conditions for us to grow in one of the most vital aspects of emotional well-being – GRATITUDE.
As a spiritual teacher and author Eileen Caddy remind us, “Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.”
Numerous studies show expressing gratitude amplifies the positives in our lives, connects us to others, and improves relationships. Additionally, gratitude gives us a sense that there is something better around the corner. I can think of no better way to start the New Year than by counting my blessings.
Recommit to achieving your goals
It is often said that the one single trait that will keep you going in the face of obstacles is your commitment to what you want to accomplish. The new year affords us an opportunity to recommit to our overall life vision and zero in on goals on the horizon.
Uncontrollable events, whether global pandemics or local or personal disruptions, will put up impediments and distract us from the tasks at hand. Setbacks happen! New challenges to navigate happen! Don’t make them excuses to quit. Make them reasons to recommit.
Twenty Twenty-two could and should be the year to becoming a better you.
Think it! See it! Keep On Pushing and you will achieve!
Devon Harris International Keynote Speaker
