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Having endured unimagined life- limiting circumstances for the better part of 2020 and 2021, many of us are looking forward to the new year with its promise of better times. New year’s resolutions are calendar opportunities for self-renewal as we put the past behind us and ready for a fresh start. Regrettably our personal resolutions tend to fail us.
The way life unfolds for most, yesterday blurs into today and leaks into tomorrow—leaving us feeling somewhat inert or stuck, as if life just happens to us. At times we may wonder whether we’re living from a script with the narrative already written. Struggling with change or unmet aspirations sadly become the norm.
What if we awaken every morning—this morning—to the intention of starting each day with the hopefulness and enthusiasm saved for New Year's day? And what if we cultivated a new approach that could help us succeed in making the changes we want?
What if we chose to seize the the possibilities, the state of potential that lies within our grasp? Each new day could bring the promise of a day well-lived. With this attitude, the days turn into years and become a gratifying and successful life.
You might ask—perhaps skeptically—just how could you accomplish this feat?
Here's how. Begin each day asking yourself how you’d like to experience that day. Suspend self-doubt and envision how you’d like your day to go.
Next, ask yourself what ordinarily gets in the way. Don’t place the blame on others or on circumstances, but look into yourself.
Look at your self-limiting beliefs and thoughts that hold you back or imprison you. Ask yourself, “Why do I think these beliefs are true?” Or more important, ask yourself, “What if I’m wrong about myself? What if I could live the life I long for?”
Willful Intention
To access and manifest new possibilities requires intention to do so. Wishful thinking won’t get you there. We all want for change, but simply wishing is disempowering and ineffective. Intention alone is also insufficient. To break into new terrain, intention needs to partner with willfulness.
Think of a sailboat at sea. You hoist the sail, the equivalent of your intention to move. But without any wind, you’ll simply drift, as we do from day to day. Now envision a gust of wind billowing through the sail as the equivalent of your willfulness. The word willfulness often evokes a pejorative quality that speaks to stubbornness or unwillingness to alter direction. This is exactly the quality of resolve and determination that I’m advocating.
What separates those who ride the waves of change and summon new possibilities from those who feel stuck is single-minded willfulness. You must infuse your intention with unwavering conviction.
Intention + Willfulness = Your Potential.
Defining Moments
Your defining moment is the instant in which you commit to your breakthrough. Think to yourself, “I can make this change, I will make this change,” and let nothing stand in your way. Be the wind in your sail. If you allow hesitation or self-doubt to distract you, you’ll falter.
Our core beliefs and ensuing thoughts instruct us as to our willful intention or lack of it. They may speak to us as either, “Why I can’t…,” or “Why can’t I?” The former obviously expresses your thought finding reasons not to succeed. The latter opens the door to your emergence.
Don’t let your limiting beliefs and imprisoning thoughts stand in your way any longer. Make today your defining moment—your defining day.
