Let's face it, 2022 was a challenging year for most of us. It probably tested you to your limits and most of you are not even sure if 2023 will be any better. As the year winds down, it is a good time to start to think about the New Year and how to improve your life. A time to reflect on what you did right and what you can do in 2023 to make your life better and more fulfilling. Here are 5 ways to improve your life and feel better about the New Year!
Important Questions to Ask yourself in order to improve your life
As you step into your reflective period, there are several questions that you should be asking yourself before making changes to your life. Let's navigate through these questions as we incorporate our NLG Pro Tips for how to improve your life.
Question # 1: What did the journey of 2022 teach you?
Notice the word journey because whatever happened to you in 2022 was not just part of an isolated incident. Your highs and lows created your journey. Therefore, you need to take everything into account as part of the overall journey.
NLG Pro Tip # 1: Create an audit of your year
Oftentimes, we forget what we have been through because our brain tends to compartmentalize what it needs to in order to help us cope with things. Create an audit of your year and go through it from January to December. Don't just focus on the negative things that happened to you in each month but also what was positive? Further to that is how each of these events made you feel as a person. What did they help you to become?
Question # 2: Am I always kind to myself?
What are some of the things that you have been saying to yourself in 2022? Are you always kind to yourself? What kind of internal dialogue have you created that needs to stop right now?
NLG Pro Tip # 2: Create a new ESL( Empowerment Shift Language)
One of the things that you need to leave behind in 2022 in order to improve your life is your internal dialogue. This might be what is making you stuck. Your belief system plays a major role in helping or hurting your goals. You need to Learn how to change your belief system and create your ESL(Empowerment Shift Language). Here are 5 ways to shift your mindset and embrace a positive outlook.
Related course: Learn how to change your belief system and create your ESL(Empowerment Shift Language)- Click here
Question # 3: Are my values clearly defined?
One of the reasons why you are not accomplishing your goals is because what you believe in or value is not consistent with your goals. For example, if you say that you value family or relationships but you are always working or away from your personal relationships, then the two become mutually inconsistent with each other. Your values and your goals are not in alignment.
NLG Pro Tip # 3: Identify your Values
As you get older, your values will change or become more defined. What you valued 5 years ago might not be what you value anymore. Take the time to identify what your current values are. Do you value family more now than you did before? Do you value love or partnership? Do you value fame or fortune? Whatever it is, you need to identify it and allow your goals to match it. You need to also find out how your values are impacting your goals. If they don't match, then this might be the reason why you did not see yourself as successful in 2022.
Question # 4: What will you do differently?
Now that you have done an audit of your year and have a clearer picture of your journey. It is now time to figure out what you can do differently next time? What areas of your life do you need to let play out differently in the New Year?
NLG Pro Tip # 4: Start off with an action plan
Start the New Year with a perspective of difference. Create your goal and vision statement for the year right off the bat. Not just any kind of goals but what we call S.M.A.R.T. Goals. Create your action plan. What do you want to see happen in 2023? Make your goals very specific. Have a way to measure and know when you have reached your goals. Create achievability by making your goals within your power to accomplish them. Ask yourself hard questions such as can I realistically achieve my goals? Finally, make sure your action plan has a time frame. When exactly do you want to accomplish your goals?
Not making time for yourself is probably one of the most counterproductive things that you did in 2022. The New Year should be a commitment to yourself starting right now. Don't even wait for 2023 to start, start taking care of you right now. Don't wait until joining a gym is trending or when the latest food fad comes out about what you should eat. Start an eat healthy and physical activity plan right now. Also, make time for rest as well as part of your plan. Your body and mind needs time to recover from all the stresses that they go through during day.
To conclude, 2022 was rough but going into 2023 you can change the things that you are in control of. Things such as how you see yourself, what your values are and what is important to you or how much time you make for your body and your mind. It is not enough to want something to change in order to improve your life, you have to put in the work and create your action plan. Focusing on S.M.A.R.T. goals and aligning them with your values.