Good Is Happening Now
From my perspective, you should not wait for 2021 to reveal itself as a better year, because I fear you will be disappointed; in reality, every year will have highs and lows. However, what you can do is prepare yourself for experiencing “better” right now, with these three practices:
1. View every delay as purposeful redirection. Last year, I lost 98% of my business, which was devastating. But that loss allowed me to achieve a new event certification, write a piece published in the Washingtonian, complete our new website, and begin a public speaking journey. This redirection did not replace every piece of income I lost, but it did help me uncover new skills I am tapping into while the events industry is on an extended recess.
2. Conserve your resources. Spoiler alert: there are a lot of articles that will tell you how to conserve your financial resources much better than I can; what I am talking about is to proactively conserve your emotional reserve through some intentional actions, such as: journaling your disappointments; building a community of like-minded people; and not lowering your prices or accepting professional opportunities from a place of desperation because ultimately you will resent choices that are made in that mindset. Part of being able to identify the positive and good in your current circumstances is guarding your emotional and mental health as a precious resource because, without it, you cannot function professionally.
3. Remember this time. You know what keeps people motivated? A stroll down memory lane when they were broken, without friends, battling depression or whatever the circumstance or trauma. I have written and spoken about this at length, and I call this practice using your personal pandemic. A personal pandemic (meaning significant hardship or trauma) will force you to remember the worse thing that happen to you, and, more importantly, the good things that followed.
Finally, don’t look for a better year but, instead, focus on the good moment, minute, or seconds. That moment may be as simple as a sip of freshly brewed coffee, a child laughing uncontrollably, the latest Netflix obsession, returning to work after a furlough, or running your first mile because you have more time to devote to wellness. My point? Good things happen daily; treasure and know that the year doesn’t make you better; you make your year. When you view things from this perspective, you will be able to experience happiness in the moment and throughout the year.
