As we approach the New Year, I’d say it’s safe to assume that 99% of you cannot wait to leave 2020 in the rearview. In fact, I’d be willing to bet that most of you have probably already written-off, or as the kids say, “canceled” 2020. That is a MISTAKE!
Now, to be clear, I am not attempting to downplay the significance and severity of the pandemic. COVID 19 shook the entire globe, took the lives of millions, forced tens of thousands of small businesses to permanently close their doors, and compromised the mental and physical health of millions, if not billions of people.
I’m merely asking that you adopt a new perspective.
“Don’t cancel the year that woke you up!”
– Gary Vaynerchuk
You can either view 2020 as the year of setbacks, obstacles, and failure, or, the year that woke your ass up, pulled back the curtain, and forced you to adapt, improvise, and overcome.
You can either adopt a growth mindset, learn from your experiences, and relentlessly pursue better, or you can remain stagnant, make excuses, and get left behind. At the end of the day (or in this case, the year), the choice is yours: obstacle or opportunity.
Let’s take a moment to examine the difference:
Obstacle Mindset:
- I lost my job
- My spouse/significant other lost their job
- The stay-at-home order strained my relationship with my spouse/significant other
- Gyms are closed and I have no motivation to train at home
- I tested positive for COVID and was forced to quarantine for two weeks
Opportunity Mindset:
- I lost my job (which I hated) and now I have to opportunity to change careers
- My spouse/significant other lost their job, but he/she is now able to pursue their true passion
- The stay-at-home order strained our relationship, but it allowed us to improve our communication skills, address unresolved issues, and appreciate one another
- Gyms are closed so this is the perfect opportunity to create a home gym, try Peloton, and/or focus on my nutrition
- I tested positive for COVID but I was able to recover, reset, and learn to appreciate my health
It’s about finding the opportunities within the obstacles.
There’s a reason that the old cliché, “Everything happens for a reason,” has withstood the test of time – it’s true!
God has plans that far exceed our logic and understanding. We’re all down here playing chess while He’s up in the heavens playing checkers. God is 15 moves ahead of you. He already knows how situations and circumstances are going to affect you and how you’re going to respond. He is setting you up for success whether you’re able to recognize it or not. So lean into your faith, lean into God. Accept that His plan is better than yours and be willing to search for the opportunities within the obstacles.
Do NOT cancel 2020. Don’t sweep it under the rug, leave it in the rearview, or pretend that it never happened. Take time to reflect on 2020.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What is your Why?
What is your brand (i.e. what is your reputation)?
What are you most proud of in 2020?
What was your biggest failure of 2020?
Who are you most thankful for this past year?
Who is someone that you admire? Why?
What are you most scared of?
Who is someone that you love, that you haven’t spoken to in awhile, that you need to text today?
What is a new skill that you want to acquire in 2021?
What are your goals for 2021?
Email hello @trainballistic.com
Instagram @ballistic.performance