Getting it right in the New Year (1)

We are at the beginning of a new year and people handle beginnings in different ways. For some they fear beginnings. They are overwhelmed by the prospect of starting. They are scared of the possibilities that lie ahead. They seem to think they are not equipped to handle the change inherent in beginnings. Due to this they enter and go through the year in fear. They are skeptical of things and, if along the way things get rough they are prone to getting depressed, discouragement and despair. Such people hardly make headway or any appreciable impact in the year. This attitude and approach of the year need not be so even though it must not be dismissed as unwarranted.

“But it’s not unusual to feel shocked, overwhelmed anxious and depressed and even fearful [at the beginning]. Even when we know we are about to face something new, the change can be overwhelming and unpredictable. And it’s this sudden lack of control over our personal environment that can lead us to feeling anxious, while the thought that we won’t be able to handle the new situation can bring on feelings of depression.” Deborah Ward

Life, to be worth it and for us to survive must be lived with a good dose of optimism. Life comes with changes. Life comes in seasons and times.

“If, amidst the poppers and the streamers and the confetti and the champagne, you’re feeling less than sure-of-yourself and about what comes next, you’re not alone. Because the New Year came without your permission, and it will come again next year, regardless of what you do or don’t do. One of the very few things we can count on in this life is changing seasons.

Change is hard—even when it’s really good for us. It’s natural. It’s normal. It’s part of life. It’s really good for us. Without change, we stagnate. We don’t grow. We become complacent. We get bored. We do not have the tension and conflict we need to become who we were always meant to be in this life. Without the possibility of change, even the greatest gifts in our lives lose their luster, because we can take them for granted, knowing they could never go away.” Allison Fallon

Some think because many beginnings are forced on us they tend to fear losing control. Whatever the case we have no choice but to embrace beginnings. As long as we are alive we will always have new years so the earlier we understood that the better so we can get on with the business of living.

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret to getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain

For some they tend to get excited at beginnings. Beginnings offer a fresh start and new opportunities but it takes more than that to have a successful year. It is easy to begin anything but finishing well is the issue. To translate from beginning to finishing and finishing well demands a process. A process is a series of events and actions done deliberately to achieve specific results. Beginnings are exciting but process is usually a chore. The wedding ceremony is a glorious event full of grace, glitz and glamour but the process of marriage is not usually as exciting. Starting a new job is something to look forward to especially when has been unemployed for a while but when the process of having to wake up early, dealing with a difficult boss kicks in the job can lose its appeal.

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