5 Things You Should Say Goodbye To In 2016
Saying goodbye is not always easy.
The first week of January is a special, yet difficult time for me. In addition to the stress that comes with planning the upcoming year, I know I also have to repeat a painful ritual. During the first week of January for the last five years, I have forced myself to overcome fear and say goodbye to a close friend. I know it is the right thing to do, but that never makes it any easier to say goodbye. Imagine you had a friend who knew everything you did for the last 365 days. Imagine that friend is someone you consulted every day to get your job done. Imagine you were almost unable to get through your day without first asking them if the next move was the right one to make. This friend helped ease the pressures of the future and gave you the ability to sit back in the comfort of the past. This friend has been your confidant. This friend kept you focused and on time. This friend drove you to reach your goals. Now imagine you have to tell them goodbye.
If you didn’t figure it out from my clues, the “friend” I had to say goodbye to was my daily planner. Call me old fashioned, but I still prefer good old pen and paper in addition to the computer and phone when it comes to planning out my life. By the end of 365 days, the planner and I become like old friends. Since it becomes filled with all of my appointments and trips for the entire year, retiring it to the shelf and starting fresh is tough. But that is what this time of year is all about.
At some time in your life, you may have found it easier to deny the fact something or someone left your life and pretend everything was fine. Maybe there were other times that you resisted change and hung onto things which you really should have let go. Sometimes saying or doing nothing instead of saying goodbye can feel like the right thing to do in order to keep you safe. But as you will read, doing nothing may be easier, but saying goodbye to or putting the right things on the shelf can help you grow.
The first week of January magically gives you no choice but to say goodbye. 2015 is over. You are not allowed to live there anymore. You must follow this rule and begin acting in accordance on January 1st. Every check you write or item you date immediately forces you to place a 16 instead of the usual 15 at the end of the 20. You may make a couple of initial mistakes, but you get the hang of it every year. Let each 16 you write or use this week be your reminder you have an amazing ability to say goodbye and change. The great news? You can use this skill in more parts of your life than just getting rid of a planner or writing down a number.
As the new year changed, you may have made a list of all the new things you were going to do, new places you would visit, the new habits you would create and the healthy activities you would begin. The problem with that good plan for moving forward is your schedule may already be filled with bad things holding you back! In order to get started the right way in 2016, my suggestion is to first say goodbye to the old things currently stopping you before you say hello to a new start. Here are the top 5 things you should say goodbye to in 2016 before you add more items to your plate:
- Bad Habits
- Bad Food
- Bad People
- Bad Job
- Bad Activities
If you can put 16 on the end of your all your dates, why can’t you start eating right at every meal? If you can start over with your financials or business, why can’t you start a workout program or getting more sleep? If you can get up each day and sit in traffic to go to a job you don’t love, why can’t you start looking for one that you do? If you can get rid of the hanging holiday decorations, why can’t you get rid of the negative people hanging around in your life? Saying goodbye isn’t easy, but you know you have the power to do it. You just need a powerful “why.” Let the fact it is a new year give you that strength.
Once you have removed things over the next 30 days, it is perfect time to start something new that will launch you ahead. If you are looking to go to new levels, one thing I would recommend is the TFW Online Certification. The Level 1 Course starts on February 1st. Secure your spot here:
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No matter who you are or where you’re from, this past week once again forced you to overcome your fears and say goodbye. Whether you like it or not, January proves you have the ability to say goodbye to the old and start with the new. This may be the last great “holiday” gift you get this season.
Say Goodbye,
Martin
