How I’m thinking about the transition to 2021
2020. Has there ever been a year we've been so eager to leave behind?
I've always enjoyed making the transition from one year to the next and the possibility that comes with that symbolic blank slate. I love those quiet few days before January 1 where I take stock of the year I just had and dream big for the one ahead. As with everything this year, though, the transition to 2021 strikes me as more complicated.
There's some allure in leaving 2020 behind, treating it as an anomaly, and setting goals for 2021 based on how life "normally" is. The trouble is, nothing magical happens between December 31 and January 1. If we set our goals without realistic context, we're not setting ourselves up for success. We're bound to get disappointed and abandon our goals when external circumstances don't align with our plans.
On the other end of the spectrum, there's the temptation to put our hopes and dreams entirely on hold until things are "back to normal." The danger is that we don't know how long we'll have to wait. 2020 and 2021 become lost years when they could hold meaning and value in different ways than we're used to.
I'm choosing a third perspective: that we can enter the new year with optimism and intention as well as flexibility and adaptability; that we can strive to live fulfilling lives even when we can't control everything going on around us. Here's my four-step process for setting goals for the new year:
Reflect. Look back at 2020, learn from it, and step into the new year without leaving 2020 feeling unresolved or unexamined.
Get Present. Get in touch with what's important to you right now, identify your values, and assess the extent to which you're honoring them in your life.
Look Forward. Assess your current satisfaction in the various areas of your life and set meaningful outcomes that incorporate what you want to do, who you want to be, and how you want to feel in 2021.
Make it Happen. Keep your outcomes top of mind and identify critical supporters in your life who can provide championship and accountability.
Given the year we've just experienced, it felt especially important to have a tailored approach for this transition and to share it with others, so in recent months I've created a four-part self-paced course to help guide people through the process I'm using. If you're interested in joining me, you can enroll here.
I’m wishing you all the best for 2021. For all that’s bound to be difficult, there’s also the opportunity for connection, community, growth, love, and so much more. I want that for you!
