It is 3:00am in the morning on New Year’s Day and I can’t sleep. I don’t know what it is about the beginning of a new year, but it gives me a lot of anxiety.
I’ve been self-coaching myself on why I feel so much anxiety and I realized that I mistakenly think that a year (as a whole) can only be good or only be bad. And, that is a thought error on my part. Because life can more accurately be described as a 50/50 mix, meaning 50 percent of life we will feel positive emotion, and 50 percent of life we will feel negative emotion.
I used to balk when I got reminded by my coach about this 50/50 mix. I felt as if my life was more of a 70 percent positive emotion and 30 percent negative emotion mix. And maybe it is. But, the point is, we have to experience contrast in our life to know and appreciate the good times.
Another thing to be aware of is that the circumstances of our life are neutral. It is our thoughts about those circumstances that determine whether it is good or bad.
For example, let’s say that Nicole just lost her job and she is devastated, worried sick, and thinks her world is falling apart. Jennifer, on the other hand, just got laid off from her job and is relieved because she had wanted to find a new job, but didn’t have the courage to quit her job.
Notice that these are two similar situations, but two very different ways of looking at the circumstance (i.e., losing the job).
So, it is up to each and every one of us to determine how we want to interpret the circumstances of life. And, I am not suggesting that we try to interpret everything in a positive light, because there are times that we want to be sad, mad or unhappy. But, it is critical to remember that how we interpret any circumstance in life is by the thoughts we think about it.
So, as I look forward into this brand new year, I need to remember that it is only my thoughts that are causing the anxiety I am experiencing. And, the beautiful thing is, I have the power to direct my thoughts. I don’t have to marinate in my anxiety, I have the power to be hopeful and excited about 2019.
Happy New Year My Friends!
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