Admit it, we are all ecstatic that 2016 ended, and 2017 has started, because "today is the first blank page of a 365 page book... so we better write a good one" (cliche, right?).
But let's be real, what if 2017 has some hurdles? What if it has already gave you a swift kick in the ass? What are you going to do? Wait until 2018 comes along so you can "learn from yesterday, live for today and hope for tomorrow?" No! You are going to put on your black lace Victoria Secret panties (because your are one classy lady), and we are going to make 2017 our bitch, and this is how:
1. Reflect On The Past
Live each day with an attitude of gratitude, and I promise you will live a happier life. I am not asking you to look in your 2016 rear view mirror and remember everything negative that happened. Not at all. Complete opposite actually. Instead, next time you complain about gas, be thankful you have a car. Next time you get upset with a family member, be thankful you have them in your life. Next time you want to strangle your boss, be thankful you have a job. Just take a step back and re-evaluate the positives in your life.
2. Find The One Thing
Figure out what matters most. For the "YES!" people out there, this is for you. How many times have you wished for more hours in a day? As the author of The Only Thing, Gary Keller states, "It's not that we have too little time to do all the things we need to do, it's that we feel the need to do many things in the time we have." We become active and busy, but this doesn't actually move us any closer to success. Activity is often unrelated to productivity, and busyness rarely takes care of business. So, in 2017, it is 100% okay to say "NO", and not feel like an asshole about it. Your time is valuable and limited, so pick the area(s) in your life that you matter most and focus your attention on that!
3. Bouncing Back
It is your family, health, friends and integrity that should be of importance. There were many people that I chatted with in 2016 that were burnt out, stressed, had to take stress leave, etc. They were simply pushed to the max. Their relationships and health took a back seat and were becoming damaged. Had they gave two thoughts to what Gary Keller mentions in The One Things, perhaps their outlook would have changed. "Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls -- family, health, friends, integrity-- are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered."
4. KNOW YOURSELF SO WELL TO NOT GIVE A FUCK
We all have a limited number of fucks to give; pay attention to where and who we give them to. I like to call this maturity. When we were younger, we had so much energy to care about everything and everyone. As you get older you realize, life is what it is. It's because you have gained experience, and began to notice that most of the small things have no lasting impact on our lives. To get here I realized you need to be comfortable in your own skin. Know who you are (to the core), what you want and how you are going to get it. If you aren't sure yet, that's fine. My advice? Take 2017 to focus on you. Soon enough, you will know what to give a fuck about, and what not. When you have it figured out, it is the best feeling in the world. Trust me!
What are some other tips that will help make 2017 our bitch?