A brand new year is once again upon us. For many people, this is the time for fine-tuning their list of resolutions and goals for the coming year. You know, all the resolutions and goals most of us end up bailing on before March.
Instead of making up a list of all the things you think you should achieve this year, things like losing ten pounds, finding a new job, or ditching your bad habits, instead of putting those types of things on paper, I want to encourage you to take a different approach this year.
An approach that is guaranteed to put you in a better frame of mind throughout the year.
An approach that will enable you to actually achieve the typical New Year’s Eve promises you’ve made – and broken – in the past.
I want to encourage you to commit to being present, positive, and purposeful this coming year. The 3 P’s are what I consider a perfect blueprint for living the best life possible – and you don’t have to worry about scales, bank accounts, and the other ways by which you’ve measured your success in meeting previous New Years goals.
My life has been so much more rewarding since I began focusing on the here and now, maintaining a positive attitude towards everyone and everything, and living each day with a specific purpose in mind. Gone is all the anxiety, bitterness, and disappointment I experienced in the past.
And when you think about what it means to constantly live life in opposition to the 3 P’s, it totally makes sense. Would you rather live a life in which you are always wishing you were somewhere else? Would you rather live a life in which you are always consumed by negativity? How about a life in which you are always wandering aimlessly, not quite sure what you are doing or why exactly you are doing it?
Thanks, but no thanks!
Be present.
Have you ever thought something like this:
“If I could just turn off all the thoughts running around inside my head, it would feel incredible. If I could just look at all that’s right in front of me, instead of staring at the past, the future, or some other place I’d rather be, I’d be so much happier.”
Well, you can take on that mindset. Everything you think, and every attitude you embrace, is a choice. All of it.
So choose to be right here, right now. Notice who and what is around you. Pay attention to what you’re feeling. Dive deep into the thoughts you’re thinking.
And when you do, guess what’ll happen.
You’ll experience reduced anxiety.
You’ll experience increased proficiency and effectiveness in everything you do.
Most important, you’ll experience improved and healthier relationships with the people you care about most as they finally believe you appreciate them.
That alone is worth being present.
Be positive.
Negativity is a contagious disease that can destroy relationships, ruin careers, and cause permanent damage to a person’s physical and mental health. Like any contagious disease capable of such damage, you need to avoid negativity by any means possible.
You can do this by transforming yourself into a more positive person. Here are three ways to do that:
- Limit your negative thoughts by consciously combating them with positive thoughts.
- Allow humor to alter your mindset. I’ve always believed that heartfelt laughter is the best medicine.
- Tap into your creative side. It’s proven that creativity and self-expression can have all sorts of positive effects on your mindset.
Once you’ve begun pursuing a positive approach to life, you’ll soon notice many benefits.
Your physical health will improve, as you bring less and less stress upon yourself.
A positive attitude will also help you more successfully tackle the more challenging aspects of life. Anything negative or unexpected can be overcome with a positive mindset.
Finally, much like when you’ve chosen to be present, you’ll notice obvious improvements in your relationships with your family, friends, and colleagues.
Again, that in itself is reason enough to embrace a positive approach in everything you do.
Be purposeful.
It is so easy nowadays to lead lives that are chaotic, distracted, and purposeless. The weird part is that we often wander aimlessly through life, but we do so while being busier than ever.
Living that way can easily lead to burnout and the intense frustration that comes from feeling like we’re not doing what we’re supposed to be doing. That feeling can weigh down even the most optimistic person.
In contrast, being fully focused and connected to what you intend to do is one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll ever have. Being purposeful brings with it so many benefits, including
- better mental and physical health,
- more free time because you’re using your time wisely,
- more energy to do the things you enjoy, and a
- greater sense of accomplishment because, well, you’re actually accomplishing more.
So how can you become more purposeful so that you can enjoy these benefits? Well, for starters, it helps to identify some sort of mission that is bigger than yourself. Attach yourself to a cause, or something more meaningful than the mundane items of everyday life.
I also recommend focusing on one thing at a time. It’s nothing more than a myth that we can actually thrive while multitasking. Trying to do too many things at one time will only lead to confusion of purpose and, in the end, it’ll prevent you from mastering what you’re truly capable of mastering.
The most effective way to be purposeful is to live in the moment. Actively look for situations during each day in which you can take a step towards achieving your purpose for that particular moment. That can’t happen if you’re hung up on the past or stressing about the future.
Closing thoughts for the new year
Of course I believe in setting certain attainable and measurable goals. They can be helpful as you try to become the best you possible.
But the reality is that traditional New Year resolutions don’t typically do that. They tend to cause anxiety and guilt more than anything else.
The new year should bring you feelings of joy, newness, and freedom. I hope it does. And if you spend this year living a life based on the 3 P’s, I’m pretty sure you’ll still have those feelings a year from now.
Happy New Year!
The Music Mom: Eileen Carey 
Thank you so much. I am so grateful. Peace be unto you!
On Wed, Jan 1, 2020, 9:06 AM The Music Mom: Eileen Carey Eileen Carey posted: “A brand new year is once again upon us. For many > people, this is the time for fine-tuning their list of resolutions and > goals for the coming year. You know, all the resolutions and goals most of > us end up bailing on before March. Instead of making up a l” >