Pushing the Reset Button: New Year, Fresh Start
Jan 15, 2014 11:19:49 AM
“The nautilus is a deep-sea form of life that inches like a soft man in a hard shell finding his prayers along the bottom. Over time it builds a spiral shell, but always lives in the newest chamber.
The other chambers, they say, contain a gas or liquid that helps the nautilus control its buoyancy. Even here, a mute lesson in how to use the past; live in the most recent chamber and use the others to stay afloat.”
-Mark Nepo
What I like best about the New Year is that I get to have a do-over. Pushing the reset button gives me that imaginary fresh start l have been longing for: a chance to have a new beginning and to redeem myself from the questionable personal and professional choices I have made.
What would I change?
Well, I would start by making better decisions about my health and wellbeing. I would drink more water, eat more vegetables, and take more walks. I’d go to the mountains more often, and sit on a rock by the river and listen to the sound of the water as it hurries by. I’d feel the leaves crunching beneath my feet as I climbed to the top of the trail, breathing hard and feeling sweat trickle down my back, a reminder that I still can make the journey to the top.
Every day I would take the time to wear my Bose headphones, and block out the noisiness of life that makes my head swim and replace it with a wild tune that has me instead swaying my hips and feeling my body stir. I’d leave my head space more often and join the world by putting away my iPhone and my iPad and just sit at the airport and watch people pass, and smile at the children, and remember what joy it brings to fly away to someplace or back home again. I’d look into the face of my husband more often, and be curious about what he is thinking, and feeling.
In my New Beginning, I let go of what holds me hostage and reach for fun and new adventures while never losing my purpose or an awareness of what blocks the path toward my greatest destiny. I’d trust my intuition. I would allow myself and others to learn from our mistakes without shaming. I would meditate each morning, grounding myself and partnering with the earth as I offer that day the best I have to give, and I would look to the stars each night lifting up a grateful heart for another day under their protection.
You know what else I would do…I’d tell my fears to take a flying leap. I would worry less. I would stop fretting over if I will ever be able to retire, and I would just live each day as fully as I am able. And I would trust myself to make the best choice, moment by moment, knowing each choice I make is leading me exactly where I need to go.
As the world makes its journey around the sun this year, I feel myself being pulled and I lift my arms reaching and stretching on tip toes as I grow toward the light.
In my work with clients, I use an evolutionary model called The Cycle of Transformation. As a coach, I know transformation begins when one allows the time to slow down and reflect on all the doing, looking back over the shoulder just long enough and then turning and finding that spot on the horizon that is yours and yours alone. With insight I pledge to live in conscious choice moving one step at a time as I spiral through my life lessons like the nautiluses, “living in the most recent chamber and using the others to stay afloat.”
There is a certain sense of relief in knowing that do-overs are a part of the natural order of all things.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the new year; comment below to share.
Deb Siverson is a seasoned executive coach, certified as a PCC through the International Coach Federation. If you want to schedule time to discuss how you or your organization can increase engagement through the development of the leader within contact us now.
