New Year, New Approach

As I watched the final days of 2023 wind down, I couldn't help but notice the increase in year end messaging.  It seemed like I was suddenly surrounded by wrap-up emails summarizing accomplishments and milestones from the past twelve months.  For example, Spotify has provided my year-end wrap, which amongst other things has confirmed that my musical persona is Vampire - I can honestly say that teenage Kerri would be so proud, and also would nod her head and say "told ya - this is not a phase"!  These messages are followed by others that provide suggestions for how to welcome in the new year - how to prioritize new goals, new habits, new health priorities.  It has been enough to make my head spin.  

While I appreciate and am intrigued by many of the hints and suggestions that are flowing my way, I am also finding myself starting to feel a sense of overwhelm at the idea of what to prioritize for the new year.  I am a planner by nature, and tend towards having a pretty clear-cut schedule of what I am working towards and how it will play out over the weeks and months ahead.  This is something that comes naturally to me, and with it often comes with mental exhaustion as I attempt to make all of the pieces of the puzzle I am holding fit together all at once.  I can tend to over schedule myself, leaving very little wiggle room for the inevitable issues that will crop up and throw off my very well thought-out plans.  I also tend to take on more than I am capable of doing, simply because lots of new things appeal to me and I have a hard time saying no, or not now. 

So what to do from here?  It is one thing to acknowledge this feeling, and quite another to do something about it.  

I think that my overall goal for the new year is to NOT approach it from a sense of overwhelm or overload.  I am going to look at the many shiny things that are catching my attention and see if I can provide them with some space and time and see what sticks.  I am not going to feel guilty or upset if I try something new and it doesn't quite hit the mark.  Not everything can or will be my thing, and considering that there are only 24 hours in a day, and I go to bed at an early hour, I can only do so much.  

I am also going to try to not over plan things.  This will be tough, as I am a planner by nature and often mull over (and over, and over) my scheduling and plans to the point of exhaustion as I aim for perfection.  And THAT is another thing I want to address this year, perfectionism.  Aiming to strive for good enough instead of perfect will feel very unlike me, and at times will feel like a cop-out.  I also know that it is something I absolutely need to put focus towards.  Perfecting the art of not trying to be perfect - how is that for irony?

Basically, 2024 is starting to look like a year where I challenge my nature in a healthy way so I can lean into my strengths while dialing some of them back a touch.  It sounds like an interesting experiment where the key ingredients will be patience and presence, and trust that I can let go and trust things will turn out the way they are meant to.

I think the greatest gift that we can give ourselves, and the world at large, is the gift of reconnection with who we truly are.  Not the version that we wish we were, or that we think we can become if only...nope.  Instead, taking a deep breath and acknowledging that the person who is looking back at us in the mirror is perfectly imperfect and deserving of love and acceptance.  Period.  Happening to perfect a new talent or finding a fitness routine that happens to increase our well-being is simply icing on the cake.  It is much too easy to fall into the trap of turning life into a make work project, and speaking from experience, it is an exhausting way to spend your days.  

May the new year bring you 365 days in which to explore, celebrate, and be you, whatever that might look like. 

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