Another year has come and gone leaving you dusting off your shoulders and reaching for the optimism button once again. Depending on who you talk to, a New Year’s Resolution is either a waste of time or a smart strategy for starting anew.
For many Americans, countless hours were spent pulling out head-hairs and going through the daunting ritual of trying to find employment; not to mention the issues involving maintaining a mortgage, car note/s, insurance and healthcare.
According to an article in the Washington Post, unemployment among African Americans and Hispanics ascended to staggering heights. The figures showed 4 out of 10 Americans had to adjust their housing circumstances and among blacks, the jobless rate surpassed the 9 percent mark, making a climb to 15.7 percent, if not higher.
So the New Year is here. Now what? What are you going to do differently than the year before? Stress some more? Shake your fists to the ceiling? While you may have grown accustomed to wearing a near-permanent unibrow, your life has not been put on hold. Your story is still being told and a new chapter is constantly being written. Here are just a few categories to help you regenerate your life from the inside out:
1) Update your business strategy. Whether you are seeking employment or positioning yourself for advancement, stay abreast of the latest job trends. Designate a specific time slot to work your plan, after which, put it away. Don’t obsess over the process.
2) Avoid complaining about what’s not working in your life. Stop telling everyone you meet how hard it’s been for you and that no one knows the troubles you’ve seen. Start focusing on what is going well in your life, like the smile of your child, a supportive spouse, having good health and a sound mind.
3) Start increasing your faith. God gives each of us the innate ability to seek out His power. Read, pray and meditate in this area. You’ll find that opened doors will manifest in your life. Our lives often reflect what we speak into existence.
4) Gravitate to positive energy. Any behavior that devalues who you are and doesn’t celebrate your uniqueness, run in the opposite direction. It’s poison and has no place in your life, even if it means “unfriending” some folks. You are attempting to live copiously, not detract from it.
5) Treat your body right. Avoid overindulging in foods that put your health at risk. According to health experts, 70 percent of cancers derive from a poor diet. Take the time to educate yourself and find that balance. Cancer patients are usually advised by nutritionists to curtail or eliminate their meat intake. Follow suit, even if you only cut your meat consumption by half and substitute the later with soy, (read up on this first) and other sources of protein.
6) Find a new way to look at life. There is still much beauty to experience, including the people that you meet. Learn to applaud differences in others. Folks shouldn’t always have to think, behave and look like you. Try to meet individuals that enhance your perspective on life, allowing you to sit back in awe, grateful and delighted at the same time for the experience.
7) Find small ways to give back to others. If you enjoy playing the piano, then go to nursing homes and play for the seniors. Send poetry or letters to prisoners. Most importantly, acknowledge the existence of another human being when they walk past you on the street. A simple smile can work wonders.
8) Reassess your worth. We’ve had it pounded in our heads that a high salary equals success. YES, MONEY FREES YOU. But one is not necessarily free when they have money. Concentrate on what your worth is when monetary toys are taken away. I have yet to hear of a person on their death bed spend their last breath reminiscing about how “fly” their car was. Your character, integrity, time spent with family and selfless sacrifices speak volumes and represent the core of who you are.
There is much work to be done . . . your body has already started regenerating itself from your eye cells to your pancreas! So get started!
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