Believe it or not, we have come to the end of another year. I find that I am more and more amazed at the speed with which time passes. This time of year also stirs my hope and faith in the possibilities to make good stuff happen in my life.
When I look back over the year, I’m motivated by what went well and what went wrong. Nothing is ever wasted. Every moment of our experience got us to this place, this land of new vision for the New Year.
The idea of newness has a crisp, cool and fresh feel to it. It’s like a perfectly, ripe apple. When you bite into it, you’re filled with juice and sweetness. “Mmmmm. Yes, that’s good”. Every bite invites you to love it, savor it and then take another bite. When you finish the apple, the good feeling is still there. You’ve got energy. You’re ready for your next task. The good feeling gets you moving. Your mind is sharp. Your body is ready. Here are two of my favorite “juicy apple” inspirations. I know you’re ready. Use them to get energized and stay focused on your goals in the New Year.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.
While this quote has been attributed to various authors including Emerson and Thoreau, its meaning is clear. The past may have been a little rocky and we may have some challenges ahead. But none of these things is greater than us. Think about it for a moment. There have been times when you wondered how you would get through a rough moment or how you would keep the momentum going on a project that you loved. What did you do?
You looked within. You found strength, courage, inspiration, faith, confidence, awareness, and other sources of energy. Change can happen with the simple act of changing our mind. Remember that the resources you need lie within you. Use them to build, grow and connect with others who will help you accomplish your goals. You deserve every bit of goodness you can imagine. Go for it!!!
The time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud was more painful that the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin
Growth is not always easy. Sometimes we reach a point where we know that staying where we are will create more problems. I remember being in a job that was growing more stressful. I loved working with children and families but the agency bureaucracy was changing. The change didn’t fit my philosophy. I vowed, “focus on what you love about this job and search for another one”. I focused on my relationship with families & children. It was difficult work at times but it brought me such joy. This eased my stress as I searched.
And then along came an opportunity to work with a nationally focused pediatric HIV/AIDS project. The job called for designing educational programs and materials. All the teaching experience that I’d been gathering as a fun, side job was like money that had been accumulating interest, real interest like 50%! Soon I was in a new position with a team of people that worked together and supported each other. And yes, I blossomed. I wrote articles & book chapters. I spoke across the country and internationally. I taught. I developed programs. It was one of the most fruitful times of my life.
You see, a bud is gathering the energy to open. It’s not simply waiting. It would die on the vine or stem, if it simply waited. It’s pulling in light and nutrients from the soil to get to the moment when it can no longer resist. Its only choice is to blossom.
Have you reached that place where you’re about to pop open with goodness? Take the risk. This is your time.
Envision the life you want and attract it to yourself.
© Sandra Y. Lewis