So, 2023 is now gone. For some folks 2023 proved to be an endurance test and is now, big sigh of relief, gone. Others found 2023 to be an “interesting” year. There were job changes, relocations, marriages or divorces, births and deaths – a typical year!
Why not do a personal review of this past year? Let’s be honest. Is there ever such a thing as a perfect year? Every month, week, day, and sometimes hour, can test our strength. Some events are completely out of our control and we are blindsided. When this happens we need to take a big step back, analyze the situation, gather our resources and try to move ahead. There may not be a successful conclusion, or one to our liking, but we need to learn from the experience. Do we want to be stuck in a negative state unable to move on? Life is short. (Do I really need to state the obvious?) The older we get, the shorter is life! Every day brings opportunity. I believe the comment, ‘been there; done that; own the tee shirt’ is appropriate. We must also acknowledge and celebrate our successes no matter how insignificant they may seem at the time. They, too, shape our perspective.
During times of stress it is important to draw upon our personal resources. We have (or should have) learned through past life experiences how to relate to ourselves with the hope of a positive outcome. A pep talk, if you will. That’s right I said, relate to ourselves. Many of us are so busy running, doing and being, we seldom have a chance to take a step back and either praise ourselves or ‘what the hell were you thinking?’ moment. Both are helpful.