What 2021 Taught Me

It's more than okay to not meet the goals I had planned to accomplish in 2021.

Does this mean I am failure? It certainly doesn't.

It simply means other goals had to take precedence before I could make my intended goals happen.

To be honest I was not physically nor mentally ready for the undertaking, but I did manage to accomplish a few other goals.

For example, I've managed to pay another $10,000 ($5,000 US) down on my debt owed. There's still some way to go, but I'm gaining great momentum. My car loan is down to $7,500 ($3,250 US).

Now this accomplishment I am particularly happy with, because I'm closer to paying it off by the summer.

I'll see how it goes.

Near the end of the year I had a period where I was lamenting about my progress.

I felt really unhappy to tell you the truth and I think I came down a little too hard on myself. Then I got the revelation that what I accomplished was just as important.

I learnt what it meant to determine what takes priority. What needed to occur first.

And what needed to happen was that I invest in my health (in myself) first before anything else could take place.

I'm truly thankful for the lesson I learnt about pouring into my own cup first. If I don't take care of me, I can't help anybody.

A couple days before 2021 was through, I felt strength again to begin planning for the new year, because I was hesitant. But I thought, why not take another crack at it.

Here's my process and I hope you might find this very useful:

1. I changed locations: I didn't feel settled at home, so I went to a calming place. The beach does that for me.

2. I wore comfortable clothing: The more comfortable I am, the more I become quiet and can think clearly.

3. I quieted myself: Trying to come up with different avenues and ways in which I could come up with a solution; was proving to be too tiring and a bit too noisy. So I sat still for a few minutes. (I said a prayer too, because I don't know everything.)

4. I made a list: I listed the different ways I could earn income this year. In my down time, I had been doing research and spending time working on myself. I know the solutions I have found for myself could impact the lives of others.

I thought I needed the next best thing to move forward, but I don't.

It meant me going back to my roots. Remembering how I first started and rebuilding with that strategy in mind.

And the key to rebuilding is maintaining a realistic level of consistency. I'm not going to force myself to get everything done in one fell swoop. It's how I got to the place of burnout in the first place.

But with incremental and strategic steps, I could make it to the end of the year and beyond and you can too.

You don't need to pressure yourself to make everything happen all at once.

There is a time for every season under the sun.

You could determine what could happen in the short term (less than 1 year), in the intermediate term (2 to 5 years) and the long term (6+ years).

You have and there's still lots of time.

I want to wish you a Happy New Year and wish you every success in all of your endeavours.