What comes to your mind when you think of “new beginnings?”
I love new beginnings, even though beginnings are often associated with unknowns, challenges, fear and efforts. To me, beginnings are like a clean sheet of canvas which allows a new and creative masterpiece of artwork. It also reminds me of a basket of clean laundry; it’s clean and it smells good and fresh!
New beginnings don’t have to be something major, like moving across the country. You can have a new beginning for a new day, new job, new relationship, new habit, new and healthy lifestyle, or a new mentality while facing an old problem. You name it. When it’s a new beginning, it allows you to leave the old behind, embark into something fresh, which you can shape for your future, according to your desire.
Ways to embrace new beginnings
Someone once said, “there are things that we never want to let go of, people we never want to leave behind. But keep in mind that letting go isn’t the end of the world, it’s the beginning of a new life.”
To build something new, the existing or the old needs to be torn down or replaced. Whatever the new beginnings that’re happening in your life, here are 9 tips to help you get motivated and started toward the newness in you and life.
1. Glean and learn from the past
I believe, whether it’s a good or bad experience, we all can learn from it. Reflect the lessons you’ve learned from the past, take the good with you and avoid the known mistakes or behaviors as you plan ahead for your new beginnings.
2. Let bygones be bygones
Life is a cycle of endings and beginnings. It is ultimately a choice to continue to dwell in the glorious or miserable past, or a choice to say goodbye to the past and hello to the new. It’s about acknowledging the end and embracing the new.
3. Make every moment count
T.S. Eliot said, “every moment is a fresh beginning.” Indeed! And life is too short to live in regret, worries, sorrow, fear or anger. As you start a new day, you, at the same time, check off another day out of your life calendar. Live in the present and make each moment important, worth living and the last, because when it’s gone, it’s not going to come back.
4. Envision the possibilities
Don’t let the past define or even stop you, but use your visions to help you start the new. It’s all about what you want to get out of your life endeavors and what you can do to get there. When you see it, your excitement and hope will motivate you to get started each time.
5. Write down and rewrite your goals and priorities
There’s no guarantee that one plan works from the beginning to the end. On the contrary, it’s quite normal that you may need to alter your plans, timelines and goals along the journey of your life. Write them down, visit, revise and revisit them on a regular basis.
6. Take action and commit to it
Now you see it and you have a plan for your new beginnings, the next step is to design your action steps forward and commit to it. Oftentimes, your action involves change; change of behavior, mentality, perspectives or attitudes. Change never means to be easy, but it’s inevitable. Read more about making a long-lasting change.
7. Monitor your progress with celebration
You will experience ups and downs, because progress is never linear. When you have a setback, take a deep breath and encourage yourself to get back up and go at it again. And when you make progress and achieve each milestone, remember to acknowledge and celebrate your wins.
8. Be patient and be kind with yourself
Don’t be too harsh on yourself when things aren’t going the way you plan. Don’t be your own enemy striving for perfection each time, because there are many good ways forward, and not just one perfect way. Practice and give yourself the needed grace and kindness, as starting something new could be a hard task in itself already.
9. Keep going
As I wrapped up this last tip of embracing your new beginning, I was reminded of “energizer bunny” and the bunny TV commercial. The pink bunny with the cool sunglasses just keeps drumming forward with its physical and mental effort. Yes, keep going with your stamina is the final tip for your pursuit of new beginnings.
How coaching can support your new beginnings
According to ICF 2009 Global Coaching Study, 80% of coaching clients said that coaching has improved their self-esteem or self-confidence. Other positive impacts of coaching can cover the areas in your life, such as relationships, communication skills, interpersonal skills, work performance, work/life balance, and others.
It’s much easier to want things to change than it is to make the change. Regardless of what life has taken you thus far, if you need an unbiased partner who offers a different level of thinking to cut through the noises, brainstorm possibilities, generate solutions with a new mindset and direction, and keep you on track with your new goals and beginnings, coaching is for you. Schedule a complimentary discovery call today if you want to learn more about how you can be supported for your new beginnings.
My conclusion and encouragement to you as I wrapped up this blogpost is a quote from the movie Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It is said, “it’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you are proud of, and if you find that you are not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” Go, look forward, make every moment count and keep going, friends!
About Faye Weng
Your Online Life and Career Coach
Faye Weng is an expert life and career coach who works with clients to take back control of their lives by rediscovering their passions, living/working with a clear purpose, and becoming people who can positively impact the communities around them. As your life and career coach, Faye will help you minimize noises and distractions, focus your effort and attention on the right things, execute a clear plan of action, and celebrate alongside of you when each milestone is reached. Click here to book a complimentary session.
