Here we are, on the brink of a New Year. A whole new chapter in our lives lying bare out in front of us, just waiting for us to make our mark. And hell, are we excited?
“Erm, well no, not exactly”, we whisper. “More nervous, a little afraid and quite unprepared.” The very thought of another new year makes us want to run for covers and hold on tightly to the comfort of the year as we know it. If only this were possible. If only we could stay in 2009. But, seeing as it’s not possible, we’re just going to have to find a way of sneaking through the threshold unseen, in a very hush hush way. No mess, no hype and certainly no bells.
Quite often, the prospect of a new year can scare us. We may look back at our entrances into previous January’s and feel uninspired. Perhaps we hit the winter blues, instead of hitting the ground running. Or fell into overwhelm due to the pressures we placed on ourselves. Or maybe we made unrealistic goals we could only fall by the wayside of.
But, as dissappointed as we may feel by the New Year’s of our pasts, we must not allow these experiences to tumble forwards into our futures. This New Year 2010 can be an entirely new experience, if we so desire. One filled with exciting events, discoveries and challenges to sink our teeth into. All it depends on is what perspective we decide to bring to the table.
A few Christmases ago, I can remember lying under the covers for the most part of the holidays, wrapped up in self-pity. It was during my first year at university, and I was in a state of recovery. The term’s events had all proved to be too much for me; a lot of drinking, late nights and emotions running haywire. I was all ready to be swept along into New Year with the tide. But, thankfully, I was offered a new perspective. “Rosanna, your story is boring me.” And like a dagger I felt it. Such harsh words, so out there, but so true! I thank who said this to me. And honestly, I was boring myself. My winter creation had run its course and it was time to change the story.
What I had wanted to do was go over and over how blimming awful I was feeling, and justify my hibernation from the world. But what was offered to me was so much better. I was told to give up the past and my attempts to reason my way free, and to try something else on right away. On instruction, I reluctantly peeled myself out from under my duvet and took on various different physical stances. Each, to my surprise, offering an entirely new perspective. Depending on how I held myself, and how I projected my voice, I felt very differently. The vulnerable mouse was gone and here was something much stronger and more optimisitic.
Did I free myself entirely on this day? No. But what I did gain was something very influential on my thinking. I learnt that we need first to change our physical posture for our perspective to alter and for our thinking then and only then, to move forwards.
So, next time you start to shy away at the sight of New Year’s on your calendar, make a decision to choose differently. Move to another part of the room, and try on a new physical stance. Give yourself time to experiment with a variety, anything you like. Make a note of how your perspective changes. And when you find one that makes you come alive (I guarantee you will), take this perspective forwards into 2010.
