In a few weeks, many will celebrate Easter or Passover, I have heard several speakers and pastors, and read numerous articles on ‘beginning again’. This time of year is indeed the time of renewal, reconciliation, and ongoing transformation.

The 2017 year has been the most challenging year of my life. My beloved father passed away suddenly and tragically a few weeks ago. It has been devastating to my family, as we are a very close family of four – and Daddy was the backbone for his ‘three girls’. I feel certain I am not alone, as there is no doubt that many have experienced more hiccups, more steps backward than forward, and more unforeseen challenges than expected, as well. Life is not easy; as my momma has always taught my sister and me: “We all have a sack of rocks in life, it all comes down to how we carry them.” Truer words have not been spoken.

New BeginningsMy family has found solace in our Faith in a Divine Hand and we are trusting in a greater plan than we can see at this point. Thus, I am attempting to welcome spring as a time for renewal and ongoing transformation in my life, my perspective, how I build my businesses, how I can become more accomplished in my profession, how I can finish (!!) my third book, and continue to become more fit and healthy through this coming year. Daddy would expect nothing less, of this I am quite certain.

Yet, as I mentioned before, life is not easy. We need support, love, and care from our friends and colleagues. We all need those ‘B12 shots’ of encouragement, reinforcement, and energy – that is one constant I observe among my executive clients as well as my friends.

So, as we enter the spring season, what are 2 simple B12 shots we can take with us as we continue our growth as professionals and human beings?

1. Our thoughts most certainly will become things.

However we fill our minds directly translates into how we feel and ultimately how we behave…..and the life we create for ourselves. I know this and believe this – yet, often it becomes difficult to ‘change the radio channel’ we have playing over and over in our minds. I believe, however, if we can change our thoughts – we can (and do) ultimately change the outcomes. It is amazing to hear the self-talk we often say to ourselves: “I can’t”, “I shouldn’t”, “It won’t work”, “I knew this would happen to me”, etc. – Which invariably results in exactly that outcome. We all have said these things to ourselves at one time or another. I know I have!

The challenge for each of us is to observe when this happens and to stop it. Whew – not an easy task – especially when we feel the tides of reality continuing to bring wave after wave of challenge to us. Yet, how else are we going to become strong swimmers? So, the charge is for each of us, starting today, is to consciously REPLACE the “I’ll try” to “I will”, the “I can’t” to “I can”. I truly believe the results will be much more positive and we certainly empower ourselves to meet the challenges head on. And, relative to the Grief I am experiencing, I am consciously shifting my sad thoughts to those of extreme Gratitude for having had the most incredible man as my father, friend, role model, and teacher. Gratitude Trumps Grief every time. Not easy…..yet what he would expect. Period.

2. What we resist, will persist.

This quote I believe is attributed to Carl Jung – and it is most certainly true. I have found that the only way I can truly change a bad habit – or something that I am resisting – is the REPLACE it with something else. When I obsess about something I want to change – it actually becomes bigger and seemingly more difficult to overcome. Yet, when I focus on where I want to be (the future state) versus what I want to change (the current reality) – something amazing happens.

Imagine rather than deciding what we don’t want to do, we decide what we do want to do. For example, rather than saying: “I am not going to go into more debt”, saying: “I am going to save ‘x’ amount of money this month”. Or, “I am not going to gain any more weight” to “I am going to lose 2 lbs by Sunday.” There is something magic about the affirmative that empowers us. We replace the ‘icky bit’ with something strong and positive.

So, as we welcome spring and all the beauty of new growth and nature, let’s also welcome for ourselves a new beginning. A fresh start. A new perspective. A renewed Faith and strength. Let’s grab the trapeze with both hands and swing forward!!!

I would love to hear from you as to your thoughts on new beginnings, fresh starts, and how to stay focused on what we want in this New Year! We are all in this together – so please offer your wisdom to us!!