While the start of a new year is a wonderful time for reflection, planning and hope, something crucial often gets overlooked.

When the countdown finishes at the stroke of midnight, and the well wishes ring from coast to coast and around the world, the energy is insatiable. Many of us create a list of resolutions, or bad habits we’re determined to break come January 1st.

We seek out the latest weight-loss and exercise trends. If weight-loss is the goal, we might buy all the things, smoothie blends, active wear, etc. to set ourselves up for success.  We tell ourselves, “This year is going to be different.” And perhaps, for a few weeks it is.

Truth be told, it will be different, theoretically speaking. There are never two days that are exactly alike unless you get impossibly stuck in the film “Groundhog’s Day”. Every day will pose newness, different challenges, and experiences to take in through the senses. Yet somehow, the one thing that typically makes it far more difficult for these subtle differences to make any significant impact, is our perspective. 

Our perspective is a very powerful little thing if we know how to harness its energy. Your ability to alter your perspective can and will change the way you approach any situation. Ultimately, changing your perspective will change your life. As simple as it may sound, it can be quite a daunting task to find the motivation to begin this work.  To better understand where your mindset is currently stuck, it helps to become intentional about the real issue you've been facing. 

Now that the New Year is underway, consider what old problems (old perspectives), are keeping you stuck in last year’s shadows? 

Try this activity:

• Create a list of all the things you’ve wanted to do, or planned to do each year, but never seem to be able to find the motivation to do them.
• Next to each item on your list, assign a number from 1-5 (1=least important/ 5=most important)
• Circle each item you’ve identified as a 4 or a 5.
• Then, for each item, apply the Root Cause Analysis of the 5-Whys to better understand what’s prohibited success in attaining each goal (see example below)

Example:

• Problem: I want to exercise 3 days per week for at least 45 minutes.

• Why #1: Why haven’t I been able to exercise 3 days per week for at least 45 minutes?
• Answer: I am too tired to workout once I get home

• Why #2: Why am I too tired to workout once I get home?
• Answer: Because I wake up at 6am every day, and work until 5pm. By the time I get home, there just isn’t enough energy left.

• Why #3: Why do I not have enough energy to do anything once the workday is over at 5pm?
• Answer: Because I just want to unwind and watch something on tv after a hard day.

• Why #4: Why are my workdays so hard for me?
• Answer: Because I don’t sleep well at night, and then I wake up tired. I have so much to do at work that it drains me.

• Why #5: Why am I not sleeping well at night?
• Answer: Because I am worrying about all the things, I must do the next day. The pressures at work are mounting, and they drain me.

Conclusion:

In this example, an inability to prioritize exercising was not the real issue. The real issue was this individual is struggling to manage the demands of their job. Which in turn is mentally, physically, and possibly even emotionally draining for them. If they remedy the work-related issue, it may help them to get unstuck, feel less stressed, and subsequently more energized after the workday to exercise as desired.

It takes a higher degree of self-awareness to reach the place where we realize that something must change. On the contrary, individuals who continue to perpetuate the “New Year, New Me” cycle (with no real intention to change) will only find themselves unmotivated and frustrated before long. Implementing and sustaining change requires an internal shifting. Sometimes this shift is uncomfortable and may even be difficult to implement without help from a loved one, friend, or trusted professional. There are tons of wonderful books, podcasts, videos and courses on this subject.  An interestingly unique resource that requires a great deal of intentional and thorough self-reflection can be found at Yearcompass.com. 

As you embark on this next leg of your individual journey, consider the following questions:

• Ask yourself, am I ready to do something different this year?
• If the answer is yes, then try the above activity to identify what’s holding you back.
• If your answer is no, then perhaps it’s time to ask yourself “Why, am I not ready to make a change?”

There's no time like this very moment, for you to decide whether or not your new year will be defined by your old problems.

Resource: The Year Compass