A New Year is a chance for a fresh start and allows you to move into the year ahead with confidence and optimism that it’s going to be a great one.
Part of setting yourself up for a wonderful year can sometimes be letting go of things in your life that are no longer beneficial for you and may be holding you back from living the life you want. It’s been said that to let new things in – you must create space. Sometimes, the things you're holding onto are the things holding you back.
Letting go of something that no longer serves you may present challenges at the time. However, in doing so, you are not just removing negative habits, thought patterns or physical things that you don’t need any more – you are also opening yourself up to new and exciting possibilities.
Why do we hang on?
We understand it can sometimes be easier said than done to let go. As humans, we are all creatures of habit and tend to gravitate towards the ‘known’.
We tend not to like letting go of the familiar to venture into the unknown, but just because things are comfortable or familiar does not always mean they work for you.
As we move through life, naturally, we change, and it’s common to find that some of our beliefs, habits, or existing goals may not work for us anymore. If that sounds familiar, it might be time to let go.
Liberate yourself
Identifying what needs to go can be tricky, but it’s important to trust your gut. Think about what you are hanging onto that is not benefiting you anymore – be that a goal that no longer suits where you now see your life going, a job you once enjoyed but that is now not making you happy, or a way of thinking or behaving that does not help you move your life in the direction you want it to take.
Everyone is different, but with a bit of self-examination, you can decide how to lighten your load for the New Year in the best way.
Breaking those bad habits
We all have habits and behaviours we know are not serving us well as we move through life. You might recognise that you are prone to procrastination, which interferes with your ability to get things done. Making a conscious effort to address this and develop the discipline to work through a to-do list could be the best move you can make to start the new year afresh.
Or you might decide now is the time to address your spending habits and get on top of your finances – dropping the unnecessary purchases and being more mindful of your spending.
Lightening the load
If emotional baggage is starting to feel like a physical weight on your shoulders, it is time to address some of these emotions and lighten the load actively. This kind of baggage can weigh us all down, be it past failures or even previous successes, unresolved anger, hurt and regret.
Talking to a trusted friend or seeking professional help can help you identify what’s happening and unpack some of that baggage.
Cutting through the clutter
Of course, letting go might be more about your physical environment rather than your emotions and habits. It’s easy to accumulate ‘stuff’ but often more challenging to let it go.
It can be an excellent start to a brand-new year to go through your things and get rid of anything that is not serving a purpose, letting go of things that are not useful or don’t give you joy anymore.
Next steps
Letting go is a process, once you’ve made your decisions about how you intend to move into the New Year, make the commitment to create space in your life, allowing yourself to grow, unlock your true potential and navigate forward with your life in a positive way.
Speak with your local Nexia Australia Adviser on how we can help you navigate towards your financial goals this year and unlock your true potential.
