06 Jan A New Beginning

Every January 1st we see in a new year by drawing a line under the year before, saying goodbye to what has been and welcoming in new possibilities. But what gives this specific date such importance? How can 1 out of 365 days in the year be so powerful?

We make it so through way of our intention.

In reality, the 1st on January is just the day after the 31st of December, the same as the 15th of May follows the 14th, or 23rd September follows the 22nd. Nothing much has changed in the space of one night, but because we have given so much meaning to the 1st of January, we set a clear intention that starting on this day we will loose weight, be healthier, make more money, move house, start a family, learn to drive or any number of New Year’s resolutions. This intention then motivates us to make the changes we’ve been thinking about for weeks, months or even years. It inspires us to take action instead of just doing the same old thing we always do, over and over, and expecting a different result to magically happen.

And here’s the thing… this ability to take action and make changes in our lives has absolutely nothing to do with January 1st.

We just tell ourselves it does.

We tell ourselves a story where we have to wait until this date to improve our situation, sign up to a membership, take a course, make a call, write a letter. Especially with how 2020 turned out to be, so many people were eager, biting at the bit, to see in the New Year and say ‘Goodbye!’ to 2020, but January 1st, that magical date we were all waiting for isn’t where the power lies… it’s within you, and me, and all of us.

“Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

Every morning can be the beginning of a new life, if we choose. Every morning we can set a clear intention to do and be what we want. Even in the face of current restrictions we have the freedom to choose how we want to show up and what attitude we want to cultivate. You don’t have to wait for a generic calendar date to come around to start being who you want to be. You can take action now and make changes in your life.

You don’t even have to wait until the next morning.

Every moment we have the choice to start a fresh, to draw a line under our day so far and start being who we want to be.

You can apply this principle to your driving and see every drive as a new day, a new moment, a new beginning, a new you:

You don’t have to bring anger into the car because you’ve just had an argument.

You don’t have to bring anxiety into the car because you were worried earlier about driving.

You don’t have to bring a sense of rushing into the car because you’ve been busy all day.

You don’t have to bring anything from your past into your car, your now.

Let go of what does not benefit you, and set the intention to be what does.