New Year’s Revelations (a Letter from 2016)

Hi there,

Yes you. You know who you are. If you’re reading this, it’s definitely you. Here I am. 2016. I’m finally here, a blank canvas ready for you to make your mark.

So you’ve drawn your line in the sand (again). Set your goals and decided you will make big changes this year. If my arrival prompted this then, you’re welcome! If not, I’m glad you don’t need my arrival to make the changes you want.

Either way, sounds like you’re ready to rock.

Before you dive in though, you need to know something. I will resist. I will throw things that will hurt you. One thing I guarantee is that there will be struggle. Some you can predict, some you can’t. Forget death and taxes. Death and struggle are the only things you can be sure of. Because struggle means life. Struggle comes with living, loving and meaning something. When it stops, you’re dead.

Embrace the Struggle

The mark you make will depend only on your response. When struggle comes you have two options. Let it beat you or embrace it. Struggle is life coming to you, sculpting and refining you to reveal the beautiful person you are. Meet each challenge with open arms. Learn to laugh and love every one. Your willingness to anticipate and embrace struggle will allow you to rise.

‘We are not put on this Earth just to accumulate victories and trophies and avoid failures; but rather to be whittled and sandpapered down until what’s left is who we truly are.’ – Arianna Huffington

What if you fail? Love that too. In fact, put yourself in situations that may result in failure. Take a chance. Be vulnerable. This means you are living, loving and making a difference. It’s not about success. It’s about happiness. Don’t let your happiness be defined by success. Define it by how you live, how you react to failure and interact with others.

‘I have not failed. I just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.’ Thomas Edison.

Train Your Brain

Your biggest weapon is your brain. You know you can trick it right?

Consider any goal you have set. Identify the biggest roadblock that will stop you reaching it. This is your moment of truth. Overcome it. Decide now what your response will be. Right now, tell your brain how it will respond. Pre-program your brain before the struggle comes. That is the key. This is not a hack. It is hard but it is so worth it.

‘I completely believe in my ability to figure things out.’ (me)

Want to cut out afternoon coffee? Your biggest challenge is craving. Trick you brain to crave something else by consistently replacing it with your preferred afternoon snack. Soon you will crave that instead. Want to write every day? Your biggest challenge is remembering to do so (a lot of people just forget their goals). Visualise it somewhere you see every day. Set-up reminders or mental triggers. Tattoo ‘W’ on your foot if you need to!

I’ve got to go now. I move fast.

Goals are not the goal

One last thing before I go. Remember, a goal is just a sign-post on the road – a guide to help you navigate – a means to an end but not the end itself. There is only the road and your interactions on it. Everyday life and living it fully is the destination. And you are already there. Promise yourself to live, love and matter every day. How you live is the most important thing.

Being over Doing.

Now I can see your fingers are twitchy – so get drawing! We’ll see each other again before you know it.

All the best!

2016.