5 Questions to Ask Yourself as you Step INto 2021

By: Claudia Haller, NBC-HWC

photo cred: Memory Creations LLC.

For a moment, let’s rewind to March 2020. Where were you? What were you doing? We were on a family vacation with our two youngest while Aicha, our oldest enjoyed her semester in Madrid.

Everything was going as planned, until it wasn't

I assume most siblings fight. Cheyenne and John-Luca are no exception but when it comes to planning family vacations, especially to a Disney Park, they are a rock solid team making sure to fill every waking minute with something fun to do. Transportations are arranged, fast passes booked, dinner reservations made, snack options listed and yes there is a rainy day backup program as well. The itinerary  is color coded and thankfully my husband and I are allocated workout times as well. Disney, here we come! We had so much fun and everything was going as planned...until it wasn’t. 

Onset of Mass Panic

During our vacation we were following the news somewhat. Then, I received a picture my friend sent to me of empty shelves in our grocery store. The Pandemic had hit. Everything changed so quickly for all of us. Our daughter took the last flight out of Spain and came home to an empty house. We got back the next day and life as we knew it was over, just as it was for everyone else.

And so began the 2020 rollercoaster ride with all of its ups and downs, too many to count. It felt as if we lost control of everything - some of us lost loved ones, jobs, and even homes. In the midst of all this chaos, how can we get to a place of peace to start the new year with strength, courage and wisdom?

A workshop with Health and Business Strategist Julia Sarver helped me tremendously to get to that place. I am a big fan of her work.

She suggested some of the questions below, and I even added one of my own. I encourage you to read along and answer them for yourself. I’m curious as to what comes up for you...

#1: What did I learn in 2020? 
I learned that judgment is not helping us to make progress. I learned that to be my best self I need alone time in the morning before anyone else gets up. I learned that I can’t change the world, but I can change how I react to the world and who I need to be to show up fully. I learned that it truly is the simple things that matter most, and that in a time of loss and pain, I can be supportive, but I can’t always fix it. I learned to listen deeply. I also learned that there is such a thing as getting tired of cooking fresh meals every day. Lastly, I learned that I miss my family in Switzerland a lot and that it’s hard not being able to go see them and hold them. 

#2: What do I want to keep doing?
I want to keep making time, really making time for my family and friends, and be present in every moment. I want to show up fully in my life in honor of all of those who didn’t get that chance. I want to continue our family walks. I studied a lot this year for my board exam and I enjoyed reading which reminded me of all of the books that I have waiting for me  on my shelves such as Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg, The End of Mental Illness by Daniel Amen and “Sternenstaub” by Chris von Rohr (a swiss book by an author of my hometown). It’s time to make time to read again. 

#3: What am I ready to let go of? What feels heavy, what feels wrong? 
Some organizations I was involved in are not a good fit for me anymore. I’m letting go of judgment and fear. It is not serving me. I’m letting go of trying to please everyone and be perfect. I’m letting go of things and people that drain me. Oh and one more thing, I’m letting go of my over-priced gym membership. Home family workouts it is!  We cover most everything from boot camps to yoga classes and sometimes I even get company for my meditation time. 
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To clarify, I’m not talking about things that seem scary. Outside of our comfort zone is where we grow, and it is important not to let something go just because it may be uncomfortable. The things that I am letting go of are the things that feel wrong, not scary. 

#4: When it comes to my personal life, what am I trying to create? Where do I see myself a year from now?
​This is one of those questions where some of us, me included, can run for the poster board, sit down with scissors and magazines and glue and listen to our favorite tunes to create the perfect vision board. When we have it ready it looks amazing, yet we never do anything with it. Are you with me?!

This time around I set my timer for 20 minutes and I wrote down just a handful of things. Simple... just notes on a few square pieces of paper. They are now hanging next to my desk where I read them every day.  To become the person I want to be at the end of 2021 I will need to align my actions to my vision, each and every day. 

Describing that process would be worth a separate blog post.  I think I would call it “Vision - meet my friends Planning and Action!”

photo cred: photos by Memory Creations LLC

The last question is the one I now religiously ask myself everyday:
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#5: What small step can I take today to help me move in the right direction? 
On the list of what to let go of I forgot to add “writing pages full of to-do’s”.  I’m now focusing on a few small action steps that I can do each day that help me become the person I want to be at the end of 2021. All I need to do is look at my board and do a quick check - what matters most today?

So, what comes up for you as you answered these questions for yourself? Some may have been more difficult for you to answer than others, they definitely were for me!

This exercise has allowed me to leave 2020 behind and use what I learned to face the new year with strength, purpose, and clarity. 

We are all on our own personal journey in becoming the best version of ourselves. 
Make sure to have a clear picture of what that person looks like. How would your day look? How would you spend your time? Who would you surround yourself with? 

I hope that this exercise will help you discover what is important to you and who you want to become. 

I wish you all a year full of growth and perseverance, one day at a time. 

With that, I will leave you with a little food for thought: 

All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. -Walt Disney

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