THE BEAUTY OF STARTING OVER
By Vanessa Kimoro
Happy new year to you! Yes, we are well into January and I will still send new year greetings. New beginnings always come with an ending and we are into a new year. Many of us have had to let go and move on to new beginnings. New jobs, new business ventures, new people, etc. Is it me, or as I mature, starting over can feel dreary when life presents itself with these opportunities. As human beings we like what seems familiar, comfortable.
Many are interested in making new year resolutions at this time of the year, which works well for some, but I am coming to embrace that change is not dependent on the time of the year, but the ability to make a decision and commit to it. What worked for you last year and what didn’t? Personally, looking back, there is definitely need for improvement in different areas of my life, but this time instead of choosing to be hard on myself, I am grateful that I have come out on the other side still standing.
My lesson on progressive change came when I started my health journey. I had to go cold turkey and cut on dairy, gluten and sugar simultaneously. There was no weaning myself off it. The first month was hard, so hard. Literally had withdrawals, but, by the second month, my body adjusted. Whatever change looks like to you, believe that you can and will.
Having been on a social media break for about five months, it has allowed me to recalibrate in silence. Albeit its rawness, it has pulled me to go deeper, navigate my faith, belief in self and stretch for strength. Aside from Twitter, which is my go to news informer, time away from the rest allowed for reflection, healing and confidence-building. One thing that stuck out was the importance of identity. Who are you irrespective of your seasons in life? Being clear that I am a child of God in both my highs and lows gives me the peace to navigate this journey of life.
The beauty about life is that we can always re-invent ourselves. Change is the only constant. However, I do wish that school had taught me to “struggle well” as Ray Dalio says in his book ‘Principles: Life and Work’. Given that we are going to be continuously thrown into challenges, it is important to realize that it is a marathon. As soon as we overcome one challenge, another one arises for us to navigate. Being a recent F1 fan, I was inspired by Lewis Hamilton’s conduct last year when he lost the championship controversially at the last race in Abu Dhabi. Having it taken when it was so close in circumstances that were meant to disadvantage him, and still congratulate his competitor is true champion spirit. Ultimate success for me is still holding onto joy and peace, while navigating the ebbs and flows of life. Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we respond to it.
Just remember that each time life offers you a chance at a new beginning, you will be wiser, smarter…evolved. Each new day is a chance to create a different story. Wishing you blessings and God’s graces as the year goes on. Leaving you with Maya Angelou’s words “Still I rise”, remembering that despite what you face going forward, you have the chance to pick up and start again because that is what makes one the ultimate winner.
Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.
Vanessa Kimoro is a leadership development consultant and trainer who is passionate about helping Millennial and Gen-Z generations find their purpose, harness their skills and transform into their full potential as leaders in their teams and organizations.
To connect: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-kimoro-9468782a/
