New Year, New Me
And the questions that changed my views.
New Year’s resolutions.Transformation. New path. Life journey. The energy of the world is changing — how do you want it to look? There seem to have been so many words thrown around this month, and it’s left me feeling…lost.
I don’t make resolutions. Changing the world seems impossibly difficult. I’ve been reinventing myself and my life for a while now and I don’t do it on an annual cycle. So these are just random words to me.
Jaded. Cynical. I feel like this each January when everyone seems to jump on the ‘change’ bandwagon.
2021 probably made it worse because the media seemed to portray the clicking from 2020 to 2021 as some kind of monumental change where everything would ‘go back to normal’. For me, normal went out the window a while back.
I was sent these questions to ponder on, and as I answered them, I shocked myself. They kicked me in my jaded, cynical backside and made me change my views…even if it is still January!
Who do you want to be now?
I want to be creative. But those words are flat and don’t convey what I want them to. Let me try a bit more.
I want to unleash my creativity.
I want to tap into the as-yet-untapped creative potential of my mind, body and soul.
I want to push beyond my comfort zone and be incredible, unique, wonderful.
How do you want to affect the world?
I want to show others the beauty of nature that I see — in the small and the large and everything in between.
I want to assist people in understanding the finite nature of our planet — that once something has gone, there’s no way to get it back.
And who do you most want to share your life with during these transformative times?
Like-minded people. That’s my first reaction. They’re the people I’m comfortable with and who make my life joyful
…but…
being with like-minded people defeats the purpose of how I want to affect the world.
Thinking through this again, I need to have a few like-minded souls who keep me enthused and encouraged, but most of the people around me need to be those who don’t have the same views as me.
Wow! That’s a change in my mindset. Right there, I’ve shocked myself.
That’s putting myself completely out of my comfort zone. It’s challenging me because I’ve done a lot in recent years to surround myself with like-minded souls, and not the ones who criticize me.
Which brings me to my own question:
How can I be with others who hold different views yet remain me?
How strong do I need to be to show and stand in my truth with a crowd of people who don’t share my views?
I’ve always struggled with that, preferring to hide in the shadows.
Over the last few years, writing has pushed me to develop strength. I’ve written things that people haven’t liked—although I used a pen name to protect myself.
Creativity is about expression. Expressing myself and my views.
I am entitled to my views. I am entitled to express my views. I am allowed to stand in my truth and express it. No matter what my family says. No matter what friends say. No matter what criticisms come my way.
I can listen to others’ views.
I can adjust my views to take into account their comments, suggestions, views, feedback.
But I don’t NEED to change my views. They are mine. Developed through MY experience of life. Gerthy Bingoly expresses this beautifully:
I have so much I need to put into practice. So here’s what I’m going to do:
- Be mindful of my truth, my experiences, my views.
- Share these truths openly. Without argument or coercion. I’ll show myself and stand quietly.
- Keep myself grounded, strong, and encouraged by the like-minded souls I know.
- Keep checking in with myself to ensure that what I’m doing is truly me.
- Value myself, my learning, my views, my life.
I’ll let you know how it goes…
