Do you feel like you’re stuck in 2018? Maybe you weren’t quite ready to move on to the New Year because you feel unaccomplished or like you left something unresolved in 2018.
It’s already the end of February, which means we’re approaching the end of the first quarter of 2019. Wow. When we’re nearing the end of December, we tend to view the new year positively and associate it with new beginnings and second chances. You, like most of the rest of the world, may have had an entire list of exciting goals to start off the New Year.
We can’t ignore the reality, though. The truth is, life’s downs can kick in at any moment, even at the start of the new year. You may feel as though negative situations “shouldn’t” happen until typically later in the year, and you feel as if your new year started off on the wrong foot. Disappointment sets in when expectations rise.
It’s Supposed to Turn Out This Way
You’re “supposed to” have a number of goals lined up and working smoothly by this time of the year; you’re “supposed” to have a date by Valentine’s Day; “supposed to” have a grand celebration for your birthday showered with love and gifts from family and friends; “supposed to” have achieved certain career goals by a certain age.
What if entering the new year didn’t mean it “supposed” to start off on the right foot? Of course, it’s always good to have good intentions but things don’t always turn out the way they should. There are tons of articles circulating on the internet that are filled with goals to adopt, and ways to achieve your New Year’s resolutions. But what if it goes beyond just having a set of resolutions to keep? What if you had negative circumstances beyond your control follow you from 2018 into this year? Then it’s time for some encouragement because you’re going to need it.
A bumpy start doesn’t mean you’re doomed to have a bad year. You don’t have to carry a negative mindset for the remainder of this year. With that kind of thinking, you are assuming that things will turn out negatively before trying. You’re setting yourself up for failure. De-motivation will inhibit your ability to take on new opportunities. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Instead, think about ways that you can lead an optimistic outlook, then set your mind on being positive and productive.
You Don’t Have to Be A Failure
Don’t accept defeat. Take your mistakes and turn them into learning experiences. What could you have done differently? A bad start to a new year doesn’t mean a bad rest of the year. It may seem easy to sink into despair at times, but you just need to get up again. Personally, I’ve had moments when circumstances did not go according to plan, and I felt as if my life would go to ruin.
My point is, understand that you’re not alone. No matter what life brings our way, God will carry us through and comfort us. He has given us tools to help us sail through life. We’re not left to ourselves so keep on carrying on. You can do this.
