A New Year, A New Life
By Barton Goldsmith
Jan. 1 is the beginning of a new year, and for most of us this is good enough. It inspires us to make resolutions – that we hopefully keep – and it gives us the feeling of a fresh start, which translates into wanting the year ahead to be the best one we have had so far.
There are some folks who need this freshness more than others.
If you have been struggling for a while, then your verve for making 2025 a great 12 months could be a tad bit weak. Sometimes it just makes sense to grab your bootstraps and pull yourself out of reluctance, so you can get to the next level.
Resolution and willpower need to go hand in hand if you want to make a significant impact on yourself or the world. Just because you get a new calendar, doesn’t mean a new life comes with it. This is something each of us has to create on our own.
The good news is most of us have the mental and emotional capability of making it happen.
Getting something new going or fixing a part of your life which has taken a wrong turn are great goals. Unfortunately for most, it is easy to get stuck at the starting gate.
Remember no matter how hard you think about something, life doesn’t move forward telepathically, you have to get up, get out and push your life to where you want it to be.
What the New Year gives us is a little emotional springboard. When we feel we are struggling, usually all we need is a little inspiration to overcome the burden, and it is the gift of having a brand-new year waiting for us.
It is up to you how you look at and accept whatever you can from this spirit of newness. Taking it to heart can open new doors and help you walk past the ones that have closed.
Life – and the problems that come with it – has a way of working itself out if we let it happen. Part of making positive changes is to grab hold of any little thing that even smells like it can make your world better. By investigating new opportunities, even if you don’t think you’re qualified, you will make things happen.
Once you decide on a direction, keep knocking on doors. One will open, and probably sooner than you expect. It is consistency, persistence and the ability to keep yourself moving toward your goals, even if you have been discouraged by the past, which will allow things to happen for you.
Using 2025 to make your life better is more than a resolution, it is a declaration you want things to be better for all concerned. It’s your year and your choice. Make it incredible.
Dr. Barton Goldsmith is an award-winning psychotherapist and humanitarian, as well as a columnist, the author of eight books and a blogger for PsychologyToday.com. This column was originally published in the Quincy Valley Post-Register on Dec. 28, 2023.
