Ending 2021 With A Healthy Mindset
Needless to say, 2021 was a rollercoaster ride for most of us, having spent most of the year indoors and bracing for the political and economic tumult that would follow. There are some things in life that we can control and those we can’t. In the late renowned author and motivational speaker, Stephen Covey’s book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’, Covey articulates this same point by distinguishing between our Circle of Concern (things we care about but can’t control) and our Circle of Influence (things we care about and can impact). So, the onset of a new year presents the opportunity to end the year right, with a healthy mindset and start 2022 anew.
Focus on the positive. When there are so many negative incidents like death, fear and uncertainties floating about, it’s important to search for a silver lining in the situation and focus on the positive. An example of this is how people came together to help each other within their means.
Where there’s will, there’s a way. It’s natural to succumb to challenges and difficulty of the situation you’re in and be affected by it. The healthy thing to do is to address the situation and assess how to overcome it.
Learn from the difficulties of 2021. Ask what you can learn from the difficulties of 2021 and use them as stepping-stones, instead of roadblocks. Think of the adversities of 2021 as happening for you instead of to you. If you consider this perspective less taken, what has 2021 taught you that you can take into 2022?
Make gratitude a habit. Gratitude is a value that many of us overlook. After being robbed of so much by the pandemic, it has taught us how to appreciate the little things in life and how we were taking things for granted. At the start or end of your day, take a moment to be still and list out what you’re grateful for. It’s a good practice that should become a daily habit.
Take small risks. Life is short. Don’t be afraid of taking small risks to achieve your dreams or goals. Don’t allow fear and negative feelings to deter you from asking to be in the run for the promotion you’ve been eyeing. Set a perspective that your boss will think that you’ve confidence and ambition by asking for a promotion.
Shift your perception. Don’t allow the pandemic to ruin your whole outlook on the future. Keep a realistic mindset yet stay positive that things are impermanent and won’t last forever. If you were retrenched or salary reduced, have faith and tell yourself that other pathways to success will unfold in due time.
Focus on the solution, not the problem. Life is full of curveballs, waiting at every corner of your life. It’s easy to get lost in how the problems came to be instead of looking for a solution. When you face a problem, be it at work or home, take a step back and assess the numerous possibilities and solutions that will present itself to you. You'll feel more empowered this way. By broadening your focus and shifting to a wide-angle lens, you’ll be able to see the bigger picture and all the potential to come.
Treat yourself with compassion. Tough times can invoke the worst out of us, starting with how we’re unkind to ourselves. Treat yourself with compassion as you do your best friend and make no room for self-criticism. Talk to yourself and acknowledge all the good in you, how you can improve and remind yourself of all your strengths.
Solitude for the soul. Solitude is great for the soul, it provides the opportunity to rediscover our lives and give a bird’s-eye view of your daily life. Solitude is important and necessary for long-term growth. Some easy ways you can practice to create space for solitude are waking up early for a few minutes to yourself, meditating to self-reflect and writing or journaling daily to help you engage the quiet voice in your head and to ask yourself questions.
Stand up every time you fall. Every loss has its gains, only if you look for it. Being able to stand up after falling increases your potential to overcome challenges. Try to discern what endings in 2021 that offer new beginnings in 2022.
The Conclusion
Choosing a positive attitude is one of the most powerful things and greatest armour we can bring forth into 2022. We only experience the lowest lows to be able to savour the highest highs. With every challenge, we evolve and become stronger both physically and mentally.