January is named for Janus, the Roman god of gates and doorways. You start the year with your own doorway. You become aware of what you have neglected and what needs attention in the New Year.
1. Embrace your flaws
Ask yourself what you need to do to embrace your flaws, to give yourself credit for your accomplishments
Action: Then imagine putting your arms around your flawed parts, accepting the things you cannot change, and changing those you can
2. Shun Work Highs
Work addiction has been called this century’s cocaine – working extremely long hours
Work highs run a cycle of adrenaline-charged binge working. Overtime, if you’re a workaholic, you require larger doses to maintain the original high
Slowing down can be a buzzkill in the short term, but it pays off with a deeper, more satisfying way of living
ACTION: Start asking yourself, what healthy changes could you make to create more balance in your life?
3. One Step at a Time
When life throws curve balls, this powerful phase helps you navigate the sea of work and family demands, self-imposed pressures and emotional turmoil
Most problems exist in yesterday or tomorrow. But yesterday is over, and tomorrow isn’t here
ACTION: Tackle only the things that demand resolution now. Tomorrow you can deal with tomorrow.
4. Beware False Threats
Mother nature hardwired you to pay more attention to threats so you can survive
You predict negative outcomes about the future without proof
ACTION: Catch yourself making negative predictions, then ask if there’s evidence. Finding evidence before jumping to conclusions saves you a lot of self-loathing, unnecessary worry, and valuable time.
5. Empower Yourself
It’s essential to reach a place within you where frantic rushing, adrenaline surges, and fatigue no longer feel normal, you always have the freedom to choose how you respond to difficult situations
ACTION: When bad news hits, focus on the upside. For example, if you have to pay a fortune in taxes, say to yourself – “I made more money this year than ever before”. When you’re under pressure, think about how you handled a challenge with confidence and courage in the past. You’ll notice your muscles relax, heart rate drop and you’ll breathe much slower.
6. Pinpoint Opportunities
If you’re searching for a solution to a crisis you’ll automatically shift to a positive worldview, it changes your outlook and allows you to take in more information that can lead to better solutions
ACTION: Ask yourself, “How can I make this situation work to my advantage?” or “What can I manage, learn, or overcome in this instance?”
7. Fill your Emotional Bank
The ability to say no isn’t a weakness or failure – it’s a character strength
ACTION: Think of yourself as a bank account. When overworking withdrawals outweigh self-care. Make daily deposits by saying no when you’re overloaded, prioritize rest, exercise and nutrition. When you take care of yourself first, you have more energy to invest in pursuits. Think about how you can start.
Credits: B. Robinson’s book, Turn off Your Job and Turn on Your Life – I wanted to share the top 7 parts that really stood out to me.
