This new year is all about you

Laura Williams, L J Business of Education, explains why this year the emphasis should on YOU…going after what you want, what you desire and what will make you happy

Read the full article below on page 18 in our January magazine

Recently a SBM said to me that being a SBM was great as they got to have three bites of the ‘New Year’ cherry…academic year, calendar year and financial year! All great opportunities for clean slates and shiny new goals.

Traditionally, at the start of a new calendar year, we talk about resolutions – which usually focus on doing the things we don’t do but should do, or stopping the things we do do but shouldn’t! It’s all well and good knowing what these things are, and showing resolve to do the right things -, and not the wrong things – but, surely, when it comes to a new year and a fresh start, we should be putting ourselves at the centre?

Yes, we should all get more sleep, drink more water, clock up more steps and leave the cakes on the bakery shelf – but on a deeper, more personal, level shouldn’t we be resolving to do, get or be what we truly want?

In my December article I said that if things weren’t going well, if things could be better, if you weren’t where you wanted to be or doing what you wanted to do, then it was within your power to make a change. So, this month, I’m asking you to focus in on that and ask yourself:

• What is it that’s going to make you happy? How are you going to get that/do that?

• What is it that’s making you unhappy? What are you going to do about it?

• What would you do if you weren’t afraid? How can you overcome your fear?

• What do you want to achieve? For yourself, not for others!

• What support do you need to get you what you want? Who are the people you need to talk to, to get that support?

• What do you want your world to look like in January 2024? What do you need to do to make that become a reality?

If you want it, if it’s worth it to you, if it’s going to change your life for the better, then that is what this new year should be about. Going after what you want, what you desire, what will make you happy – that’s what you should be focusing your energy on. 

Forget what other people think you should you do and do what you want to do.

Be bold.

Be brave.

Be you.

And don’t think twice about it!