Time to Make a Clean Sweep
Posted in Business, Self Development
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By Dr. Barbara Seifert, CPC
With the holiday upon us, this is the perfect to make a clean sweep – out with old emotions, habits, or “stuff” that we have been holding onto (but not sure why). Only by purging will you be able to move forward in your life and finally accomplish those goals and dreams you’ve been wanting. As we are staring down at the New Year, this is the perfect time to let go and forge on. This is the time of new found hope and excitement at what the future will bring; you can have what you dream of but how you get them is in your control.
Reflecting back, we can start to feel a lot of regret at what we didn’t get or accomplish over this past year, or longer. We can become sentimental, which can bring a wave of emotions that can flood us with physical reactions and tax our coping skills. This is a busy time, as we prepare to make plans for holiday celebrations; stress and burnout can easily occur. Here are some ways to help you let go and move forward:
Commit – make the decision to consciously let go of the old, whatever it may be. You have to want to let go of the past hurts or feelings of failure, which can bring with it raw emotions.
Make Time – schedule time in your calendar, whether that is a few hours or a whole day where you will do the work needed.
Plan – decide on how you will spend your time in purging-mode; you may need to clean and discard, go through old pictures or photos, review goals or business plans, or spend time journaling these old, often painful feelings.
Let Go – this is the time where you actually engage in the disengagement part; you may need to cry, wail, hit something, break something, rip up something…resolve to end the ‘woulda, coulda, shoulda’s’ once and for all.
Make New – now that you have let go, it’s time to make new plans that are fresh and without any limitations. Mind map, free-think, and write out your short- and long-term goals, along with specific, action steps. Make deadlines you can work towards, as well as rewards that are motivating.
Take Action – find one task that you can take to get you started. Chunk your tasks down so they don’t seem too large or unmanageable, focusing on the “why” and the end result.
Take the time and resolve that this is your year – to get that great job, relationship, car or, perhaps, open that new business you’ve always wanted. Regardless of what your future goals are, letting go of past baggage and past regrets is the only way you will reach them. It is a gift you will give yourself this holiday and can propel you successfully into your desired future.
Dr. Barbara Seifert, LCSW, CPC, NLP is the President of Committed to Your Success Coaching & Consulting in Orlando, Florida. She helps individuals to take charge of their careers, find the work they love and enhance their professional development to reach their peak performance. She also coaches in organizations to enhance employee engagement and leadership development. Dr. Seifert is an adjunct professor, a certified coach and certified in Neuro-Linguistic Programming. You can learn more by visiting www.cyscoaching.com and Your Career Success Blog at www.allaboutcareerssite.wordpress.com.
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