Earlier this month, I did my first Peloton ride in ages. It felt both good and incredibly hard to get back on the bike. In the days since, I also returned to lifting weights (once again) and including lots of mobility work as well. I share this because, once again, I am beginning (again) to tending this (aging) body with regular workouts. Which is what leads us to the reminder that anytime is a great time to give yourself a fresh start.
Let’s be honest: change is the only constant.
Sometimes it comes in small, barely noticeable drips into our lives, and others it swoops in and transforms our world. But no matter what shape or form change takes, one thing is for sure: we need to accept it, embrace it, and work on making the most of it.
And as a reminder, sometimes change seems small or insignificant on the outside. Or our logical brain chastises us that it isn’t a big deal. And that it shouldn’t really impact us. Yes, even (or maybe especially) these small changes – a change in routine, a family gathering, a trip, or even a change of seasons – can still impact us in a way that doesn’t seem proportionate at all. (How rude! How unfair!)
Indeed, whether a change is voluntary or involuntary, smooth or rocky, a lot of work goes into starting fresh—and it will never be all smooth sailing or a straight-forward process. And I know that even the happiest of changes can make us feel frustrated, excited, angry, delighted, and worn out. All at the same time.
So, what’s the best way to go through such a transition and come out as a better version of yourself, fully equipped to write a fresh new chapter in life?
I believe the key is this: giving yourself permission to start fresh.
Yes, even if it feels like the millionth time. You are deserving of starting over, being a beginner, and pursuing the same – or new – goal.
Yes, I am aware that fresh starts seem more appropriate to the New Year. However, I believe any time is a good time to start fresh. And to be honest, I am seeing a special sweetness to the final days of summer being the harbinger of my own fresh start in the pursuit of those goals I set for the year.
Let’s challenge ourselves: to become not just who we have always been, but who we might also be.
My invitation to you is to push beyond your perceived limits. To embody a fresh start by consciously challenging and expanding your boundaries. Set goals that intimidate you slightly and commit to achieving them. Perhaps it’s finally traveling alone. Or re-starting a hobby you pursued in your younger days. Maybe it’s time to start writing that book. Or finally taking exquisite care of your body through food and movement.
Maybe starting fresh for you means pursuing an endeavor that feels a bit daring. Being daring doesn’t necessarily mean being reckless. Facing your fears can enhance your self-confidence and broaden your understanding of your limits and capabilities.
And while I am all about routines and managing life with ease, often a fresh start requires stepping out of your comfort zone. Because each step you take is a step towards the person you imagine yourself to be.
How can you make a fresh start a little bit easier on your heart and soul so that you don’t get discouraged and give up?
Here’s seven tools to help you create a fresh start beginning today:
One – Remember To Pack Your Patience.
Who doesn’t want all the hard parts to be over as soon as possible? Yet, a slower process of transformation makes for a more rewarding journey. And better results at the end.
Think of yourself as a caterpillar, inkling to escape its cocoon and see itself blossom as a butterfly, but having to wait until it has shed all its layers of skin before the time is right to fly away.
Its why patience is probably one of the most important virtues you will work on developing, when undergoing any shift in life.
Two – Compassionate Discipline is Your Friend.
Fresh starts require discipline. You have to set non-negotiable standards, minimum weekly requirements, and/or “bright lines” for your goals. For example, I need to be in the gym before 8 AM on weekdays. Otherwise, all my daily tasks and responsibilities overtake my time and it just doesn’t happen.
Yet, discipline also need a side of compassion for it to stick for the long haul.
Three – Be Willing to be Flexible when Creating a Fresh Start.
Do not forget to also encourage flexibility in your daily life. Routines can stand to be shaken up at times. And flexibility allows you to be open to spontaneous opportunities. This might mean changing your environment, switching up your daily habits, or saying yes to last-minute plans.
By staying flexible, you remain open to the personal transformations that each new experience brings.
Four – Allow Yourself To Be Obsessive.
Sometimes, fresh starts require that we go all in. That we need to put the majority of our focus, time, and energy in the pursuit of our desires. Even if it means other areas of our life don’t get as much attention.
So, allow yourself to go down every rabbit hole in the pursuit of solidifying this goal as a part of your everyday life.
Learn everything you can possibly learn. Devote an extra hour – or three – of time to a new practice. While being obsessive about things constantly can be exhausting. And it may feel like you’re taking a step back into finding your new “normal”. Sometimes it’s the kick start your need to get over the hump of discomfort.
Five – Trust the Process.
You might have a certain timeline in your head about how much work a new project will take. When you should be finished with your book. How much weight you should lose before fall. Or how much time off you’ll need before life feels easy again.
But sometimes there are bigger forces at play than the narratives in our heads. And the transition of your fresh start might just take a little longer than you had imagined.
I’m not saying that timelines and deadlines are useless. I’m just reminding you that when you trust the process and lean into the need for flexibility, it’s easier to remind yourself that everything you seek will come at the right moment.
The process will flow with a natural ease. And you might even learn to appreciate the journey as much as the final reward.
Six – Fresh Starts are Easier When You Have a Vision.
How do you want the challenge or the transition you’re currently facing to transform you?
How might the need to begin again in the pursuit of a goal you’ve had before be different this time? Do you want to come out mentally stronger, more intellectually fulfilled, and healthier instead of dwelling on the past?
Having a vision will make all the difference. (I can help you create a vision if you want to do this in book form.)
Visualize the version of yourself who has gone past the uncomfortable stages and emerged new and improved. Think of that person’s journey, the challenges that made him or her so resilient, the values and daily rituals they live by.
You can do this by setting time aside to get lost in your thoughts and daydream. (Contrary to popular belief, we know this is far from a waste of time.) You can also visit your future self during a meditation, write about your vision in a journal, or create a vision board with images of what you want your future to look like.
Seven – This is When You Need Gratitude More Than Ever.
Gratitude is always in style. But it can be especially helpful if you’re starting over and beginning fresh.
You might need to start small and give thanks for your delicious morning coffee, the blue sky, or a smile from a passerby. But as time goes by and you dig deeper, you will inevitably find people, situations, and personal gifts worth being grateful for.
Once recognized through the practice of gratitude, they will in turn act as your guiding light out of the darkness, the doubt, and the confusion that usually comes with major change.
You may need to remind yourself that fresh starts don’t mean that you’re a failure.
Rather, it’s simply part of the constant changes of life.
While it may seem especially hard or painful to manage life’s changes with some grace, there is lightness and goodness on the other side. Yes, being a beginner again isn’t always easy. Giving yourself permission to start fresh helps you embrace the change as a normal course of life rather than fall into the pits of doom and despair.
Here’s to remembering that no matter how large or small the changes in your life may be, the permission to start fresh starts is a gift to your current and future self. And by utilizing tools such as visions, flexibility, and gratitude, you’ll come out on the other side a stronger soul.
As you create a fresh start, you may need a little help to keep you on track.
Schedule a free discovery session to see if we’re a good fit.
>>Click Here to Discover Additional Strategies to Get Your Life on Track <<
