The End of Another Year...NOW WHAT?

Wow! It has now been over a year since my last blog...OUCH! I knew it had been a long time but didn't realize it had been THAT long!

So, to recap on that, when I wrote my last article on Christmas Day of 2016, we were getting ready to head into the year 2017. And, now, as I put this article together, we are just a few days away from 2018! If THAT doesn't point out the "passing of time", I'm not sure what does.

ANYWAY, on to this particular article that I want to leave with you today. Let me say that I DID do a podcast on this topic a few weeks ago (December 8th - click the podcast link at the end of this article) and I even did a Facebook live stream on it with a little extra a week or so ago. Be sure to check that out as well if you haven't done so. (You can also find the link to that Facebook page at the end of this article).

Bottom line is this: We've come to the end of another year - NOW WHAT?

You may be one of those people that have accomplished great things this year and feel that you "stayed on track" most - if not all - of the year. AWESOME and CONGRATULATIONS! Maybe you are one that would not necessarily label it as accomplishing "great things" but, at the same time, you have had some good things happen this year that puts a smile on your face. Or maybe you are one that feels that you have fallen far short of where you wanted to be at this point in time.

I guess I would put myself in the last two categories in that I have fallen far short of where I wanted to be at this point in time but there have still been some good things happen during this past year that definitely puts a smile on my face. What about you?

If you fit into category #1,  I would love for you to share your thoughts and simply tells us how you were able to stay focused and accomplish those things this year. Share and inspire!

But, for those that (maybe once again) have "fallen short" the questions comes, "Now what?" Do you (we) just give up? Do we just plod along the same old path and keep getting the same old results?

Here are a few thoughts and suggestions that may help you as you look back over this year...

 1. Don't beat yourself up!
    Listen, there are more than enough people out there that can do that for you, right? You don't need to beat yourself up and continue the negative impact of negative thoughts. "Beating yourself up" accomplishes NOTHING except to increase the power of the negativity that will hold you back for another year. 

2. Try to pinpoint where you got off track (even if before this year) 

   You will likely be able to "pin point" when it was that you got "off track". Yes, it may even go back before this past year - it does for me! But be determined in this part of the process. For most people, there is SOMETHING that took place that knocked you off course and I encourage you to keep digging until you find it. (Honestly, most people know right away what that is but they want to ignore it because it makes them look bad or "feel" bad.)
    These things or this particular thing that knocked you off track or off course will likely fall into one of two categories:
     a. Things that were out of your control (couldn't change/can't change)

         Hey listen, there are things that happen that we have no control over at all that greatly impact our lives. It could be the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, a health issue or health issues due to an accident, etc. There are but just a few examples of things that can cause our life to come to a "screeching halt" and make it very difficult to get back on track and moving back in the direction we were headed before that even took place.

    b. Things that WERE in your control and still are (could change/can change)

        This one may hurt a little bit because it takes us admitting that it was OUR own fault that caused this even to take place. It requires you to be brutally honest with yourself and it also requires you to be willing to admit your mistake(s) in this process. 

       I'm being honest in sharing this with you - THIS ONE describes me and my situation. Sure, there are some things that I can point to that definitely affected my mindset and attitude but it was still up to me and in my control what I did in response to those events. Know what I mean? For me, it goes back before this past year. I'm not anywhere near where I wanted to be at this point in time but I can either just give up or I can be determined to get back on track and keep moving forward. And, that brings us to point #3.

3. What Now? 

    In either situation it is imperative that we ask ourselves that important question, "What now?" Put all of the "reasons" or "excuses" to the side and realize that there is a decision that must be made. Do you want to stay where you are or do you want to MOVE FORWARD? 

    First, it's going to require you to GET OUT OF THAT "FUNK"! I am not making light of this - it may even be a depression that has set you back but you must still find a way out of that depression even if it means getting professional help to help you do so.
    Get that passion back! Did you lose your passion? You MUST get it back! I have to admit that, for me, I had lost my passion over the past 2 or 3 years and I know that I must do what is necessary for me to get it back. 

     If this describes you as well then what we must do (you and I) is to look back at when we WERE passionate and honestly determine what is different between then and now. For me I know I must get back to completely immersing myself with positive information via articles, podcasts and other recordings. No one else can do it for me..no one! So again, I have to make a decision and either settle for where I am (and it's not where I want to be) and whine and complain about how I wish things were different OR I can decide that I must do whatever is necessary for me to get that passion back and MOVE FORWARD with a positive mindset.

IT IS UP TO YOU! No one else can do it for you.

*Note on above graphic: There is no ".com" at the end of the FB address*

ASSIGNMENT! I would like to ask EACH ONE OF YOU to take a moment and go to the FB page and share just ONE good thing that happened to you during this past year! Let's not focus on what DIDN'T happen but one something good that DID happen. It won't take but a minute...please do that on the facebook page .

Until next time (and hopefully before another year has passed!)...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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