New Year Lessons
It’s a new page…a fresh start…a New Year, 2021.
Moving into this year, we are filled with hope, energy and alignment. Focused on where we are headed and building forward, leaving so much behind.
2020 was a challenging year for many of us. It was a year of change, loss and uncertainty. It was also a year of growth, understanding and shifts in perspective.
But can we really move forward into 2021 creating something new if we haven’t reconciled the lessons of 2020?
I would argue that no, running from what was into what might be will be futile if we don’t register what we’ve learned and take it with us.
So what are my new year lessons….?
- Don’t take anything for granted. We have seen unprecedented loss this year. From large layoffs to businesses who have closed their doors, and from restrictions on close personal contact to record death numbers. What we once took for granted as being part of daily life, we now know to be fleeting and uncertain. This past year was a powerful reminder of the importance of GRATITUDE. Appreciate the blessings that life offers. For me, that hug from family or friends, is something that I’ll never take for granted again.
- Priorities are important and often forgotten. It’s so easy to get caught up in work, creating, building…and in that process forget what’s most important: family, connection, health, love… 2020 was a not-so-gentle kick-in-the-ass reminder that we need to have clear priorities because nothing really matters without these things.
- It’s ok to slow down. Taking time to process, to be in the moment, to take a breath….that’s not a bad thing. We spend so much time juggling, being busy and taking care of our fully loaded plates, that we often lose perspective. Sometimes we just aren’t as productive as others, and that’s ok. 2020 was a great reminder of what it feels like to slow down and engage in a little self-care.
- Listen to your intuition. 2020 was pivotal in cementing that my instincts are what should always lead me. If I listen to that little voice… my intuition… my internal compass… I won’t go wrong. I will make choices in alignment with what is most important to me and what resonates for me. Whether it’s in my morning routine or a bit of quiet throughout the day, taking a moment to check in with what’s going on for me is a game-changer. It should be my own voice that leads me and is louder than all others.
- People pleasing is unnecessary. While this behaviour can certainly make others feel more comfortable around you and avoid conflict in the process, it’s an obvious way to completely betray yourself. For me, it’s ok if people don’t agree with me…we can have different opinions and still get along, but staying true to my own beliefs is what matters. After all, my own opinion…my own voice..is what’s most important.
- It’s ok to ask for help. At the onset of the pandemic, I can honestly say I wasn’t handling things well. I was actually a mess. It was stressful and overwhelming. I was worried about my kids, my business, my parents… Things were simply NOT ok. But it was through expressing my fears and feelings that I was able to connect to my community, provide support for others and become even more authentic in my life. I’m ok with not being ok. And I’m ok with sharing that because I know that if I’m feeling something, others are as well. It’s through this sharing of a common struggle that we create connection.
- Normal is over-rated. Life returning to normal is not something that I’m interested in. We were far from perfect as a society before the pandemic so returning to that isn’t something that should be the goal. I’m ready for new awareness. A different way of relating to one another. My goal for 2021 is an increase in compassion, vulnerability and empathy.
2020 taught me so much about myself, my family and the world. It taught me that we can get knocked down and get back up again. It taught me about resilience, strength and how a family can come together when things get tough to support one another.
So ask yourself this question: What’s my take away from 2020? What did I learn? What new year lessons do I want to take with me into 2021?
Journal it so you can remind yourself as 2021 moves forward.
xo
Katrina Murphy is a Professional Intuitive Mindset and Confidence Coach in Ontario, Canada, serving clients across Canada and internationally. Katrina helps professionals to change the relationship that they have with themselves so they can reconnect both in their relationships and at work. She’s been featured in various publications and is the creator of the Power-Passion-Purpose Framework.