As I write this, it is the final day of 2010. We are on the eve of a new year and with it comes a clean slate, a blank canvas on which you can create the type of year you want in 2011.
January 1 marks the beginning of a new year. Janus, for whom the month of January was named, was the Roman god of gates, doors, beginnings, ending, and time. Janus possessed the gift of being able to see both the future and the past. The ability to look back to be reminded of all the experiences from which you have learned and benefited is a wonderful gift. But equally important is the capacity to look forward and see all the possibilities that exist.
I realize that the simple movement of time from one day to the next doesn’t change everything that exists around us. And it’s no different even when that day moves us from 2010 to 2011. However, I do believe that a new year does bring with it the opportunity to start anew. The changing of the calendar provides us with the chance to make a break with those things that we most want to change.
What kind of year is 2011 going to be from you? I believe that much of the answer to that question is up to you. 2011 will be what you make of it. I can promise you that the coming year will present you with both challenges and opportunities. It’s what you do with each that is most important and will determine what the year will hold for you.
So what can you do to make 2011 a productive, positive year? Having a list of what you want to achieve helps. I suggest you write down what it is that you most want to accomplish in 2011. You don’t have to share it with anyone. In fact, you can hide it in a drawer somewhere, but put down on paper what you want to achieve in 2011. The act of writing it down makes it more real, makes the commitment to your goals more concrete. Then, 12 months from now, you can pull out your list and see exactly how you did.
And if you want to turn that list into more of a plan, that’s even better. Determine what steps are necessary to achieve each item on your list. Provide yourself with a few milestones that will let you know that you’re on the right track. These milestones can serve as reminders that you are making progress towards your goals and that type of positive reinforcement is a good thing.
Maybe 2010 was a wonderful year full of great accomplishments and positive experiences. If so, look for ways to continue that momentum. You’re on a roll and you should try to keep it that way. If, on the other hand, 2010 was a tough year that you would just as soon forget, put it behind you, look to the future, and make 2011 a better year.
2011 lies before you as a clean slate. You can choose what type of year it will be. Choose for 2011 to be a great year!