Rough Start to 2018? Cut Yourself Some Slack [OPINION]
Sometimes things are just out of your control. Don't sweat it.
#NewYearNewMe. Boy, if we had a nickle for every time we saw that hashtag in the last 10 days, we could probably retire. There is a big emphasis on the start of a new year and all the good that it can bring. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be perfect with those resolutions from the very moment that ball drops on New Year's Eve. And I do it every single year. However, I'm realizing that perfection is overrated and going "cold turkey" on these goals, doesn't always foster success.
I realized this when I found myself on the couch with TheraFlu and Ramen.
See, my 2018 did not start the way I wanted. I spent the last week of 2017 implementing resolution baby steps to better prepare me for the new year. I thought I was being so smart. However, I woke up to a sick husband on January 1 and before I knew it, I was the sick one. It's been a rough 10 days in our house and it's taken all of my energy each day to get to the studio and spend time with you guys.
Now that I can see the light again (a.k.a. feeling much better), I'm choosing grace over guilt about my already-broken resolutions.
This year... this perfect, unblemished year to be a better me already has some smudges on it. Big. Deal. I could spend the next 30 days moping around complaining about it, or I can shrug it off and move on. In fact, I think I got exactly what I asked for. No, I didn't ask to be sick, but I did ask to get out of my comfort zone, to be limitless. I'm a perfectionist and extremely detail-oriented. So, having a year start off with something I can't control and knowing that my perfect plan for 2018 was already going off the rails, could actually be the exact lesson I need to learn before moving forward.
I'm okay with that and you should be too.
You know what they say, it's not how you start, but how you finish. There are going to be hiccups throughout the year. That's just life. So if the start of this year has been less than perfect, don't beat yourself up about it. Take it as an essential tool that's better preparing you for the next 11 and a half months. The only moment you can influence is happening right now, so live in it.