New Year = New Beginning
About this time last year, I wrote a blog about reflecting on what we learned from the challenges of 2020. As I reflect on my state of mind at that time, I was hopeful that we were through the worst of the pandemic. As we enter 2022, unfortunately we are still facing a high level of uncertainty and continued challenges in what seems to be a never-ending global pandemic.
Despite this, instead of feeling discouraged at the beginning of the new year, I find myself feeling optimistic and ready to deal with whatever is ahead. And I don’t think I am alone. In conversations with others, I have found that many of us have shifted our expectations about the future. We are also willing to admit that we have learned things about ourselves, others, and our work, things that will benefit us as we forge ahead into the new year. For example, many of us have found that we:
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Are more selective in how we spend our time and with whom.
Have a greater appreciation for entertainment opportunities, such as going out to dinner or attending a concert or play.
Understand that our plans for travel may be disrupted, postponed, and even cancelled.
Found ways to conduct business virtually that are as good as in-person, and in some cases are more cost-effective and productive.
More confident that we can handle whatever life throws at us.
Have a greater appreciation for the importance of our health and mental well-being.
In my blog at the beginning of 2021, I offered up that the new year provides us an opportunity to find meaning from crisis and loss. My optimism is based on the research focused on post-traumatic growth. Researchers who coined this term found that people who undergo traumatic events often flourish in life, with a greater appreciation and more resilience. It is encouraging to know that as we enter 2022, there are signs many of us have experienced personal growth during these challenging years. This is not to say that the challenges are over, but it is a recognition that personal growth has no destination or expiration date.
In my January 2021 blog, I suggested three areas of focus to help us deal with our challenges. Look to see if you think they still apply for 2022.
Learn to process our emotions and experiences. Trauma of any kind often results in a wide range of emotions such as anxiety, sadness, guilt, or anger. Some of us try to ignore these feelings and stuff them down when they arise. Others get stuck in our negative feelings and allow them to cloud our lives, which keeps us from moving forward. Finding a way to process emotions is a skill. Consequently, we can learn to manage our emotions with practice. Your mindfulness practice is a simple and effective way to learn how to experience your emotions without judgement, giving you more control over them.
Investing in a strong social support network. Research has consistently shown the value of social support from family, friends, colleagues, and formal support groups, in helping to understand and support positive behavior change. Strong social support means having someone you can share problems, share joy and sorrow, count on when things go wrong, and lean on for help. As we move into this new year, it might be time to reflect on our relationships. For example, assess which ones are life-giving and which ones are depleting. Then resolve to spend more time with those who support you, and perhaps reduce or eliminate relationships that do not fuel your personal growth.
Making sense of our experiences. Sensemaking is a process through which people seek to understand an unexpected or confusing event. This process involves searching for and creating meaning in the aftermath of a trauma. When we can create meaning out of something difficult, we feel life is more predictable and controllable and perhaps, we regain a feeling of security. One way we can process our multi-year traumatic experiences is through self-reflection and journaling. This will allow us to ask questions such as, “what did I learn about myself as I navigated the challenges of the year?”.
Despite the overhang of a global pandemic, we can choose to make the new year a starting point for personal growth by embracing our challenges and taking control of how we see the world. My hope is that you enter this new year with a reservoir of optimism, hope, gratitude, love, and kindness that will help you navigate whatever is ahead.