A New Year Does Not Necessarily Signal a New Outlook
For many of us, we are heading back to work this week after a long break over the holidays. You’ve had the opportunity to spend extra time with your family and probably caught up on many of the tasks that have been camped out on your to-do list for months.
The end of the year provides a time for you to look back at the past year and to take stock in what you have accomplished. It also marks the coming of a new year where your optimism should be abundant.
What if you are not that excited about going back to your daily grind?
What if you are truly struggling to embed yourself back into the plodding process that consumes you throughout the year?
Many people come into the new year recharged and rejuvenated brimming with a sense of “can do” inspiration. But many more look toward the coming week with disdain, apprehension, and dread.
I would like to say I have the magic pill that makes this all better, but I also struggle sometimes with a new year. I found myself standing over the kitchen counter this morning slugging through making kids lunches again and thinking about all the meetings I have coming up. As I mindlessly slapped peanut butter on the bread, I drifted and wondered if I am simply supposed to fall back into the daily routine and accept it as what I’m supposed to do.
It remains a struggle.
Finding inspiration allows you to break free from a downtrodden outlook. Yet, like many good things, it remains elusive. Monotony continues to wreaks havoc on our spirit. Somewhere inspiration is trying to pull itself to the forefront of your mind, yet the daily drudgery stamps it down.
What Can You Do?
I am going to continue to look for new and profound inspiration as I head into my week back at the day job. There may be moments of apathy and times where I struggle to find my rhythm again, but I will press forward.
I know inspiration is out there. I’ve tasted it before. I’ve felt the wonderful feeling rise up in my spirit, making me feel invisible. I will press forward.
You should do the same.
You should press forward and try to spark your inner inspiration. Find something that will invoke passion in your daily life and make everything seem a little bit better. Pay attention to those around you and try to find even the smallest indication of something special in their eyes or in the way they say something.
It does not take much to reverse a negative mindset, but you do need to be actively looking.
I feel you, Jeff.
Inspiration matters. I’ve written about it and asked where people find it. Consistently people said they find it in the quiet moments of sleeping, meditating, or running.
I’m uber optimistic and inspired about 2015 for my biz b/c I stared into the abyss and faced my worst fears for the business in 2014.
And I’m still here.
I have a series of great potential PR hits coming, a call with a COO of a major competitor to discuss licensing our software, and I’m confident I’m gonna raise a bit of much-needed capital. All hopefully in the months of January or February!
I say all that to say, finding inspiration is a huge help for any of us. And it’s great you’re looking for it.
You can find that inspiration article here, if you haven’t already seen it. http://www.treplifedad.com/grinding/entrepreneurs-where-do-you-find-inspiration/
Cheers!
Thanks so much James! Your comment in general was inspiring, so that of course helps! You have a choice when reading about the successes of others…regard it with jealousy or embrace it and use it for fuel. I choose the latter. Quick question…where did YOU find inspiration last year as you looked into the abyss?
Man, that’s a great question. I wasn’t inspired. I was frustrated, anxious, stressed, and depressed.
But I had hope.
I knew I had a few nice PR hits coming in Q4, and I was hoping like heck that they would make a difference for the business. And, thankfully, they did.
Couldn’t agree more Jeff especially for someone like me who continues to work on a job I hate and hustling in the evenings with my blog. It’s tough to return to work after the holidays knowing that I’ll be back in a place that I don’t really like much.
I just look at everyday as a blessing. What you said about finding inspiration is true and for me, it’s my family because like you, I aspire to have a thriving online business so I can spend more time with my kids. That alone gives me more than enough inspiration.
Each day is a gift and there’s a reason to be excited each morning when we get out of bed.
Love your blog bro! Keep it up!
Love it Noel! Yes, it can be hard to head to that job you hate, but at the same time it may be providing support while you get what you WANT to do off the ground. I love how you are feeding your inspiration by thinking about your kids and how the end goal is spending more time with them. I also checked out your website and love the message you are delivering to people. Do you have anything big planned for the coming year with it?