Ah, the New Year! I think this may be my favorite time of year; the hectic holidays are over and normal life can resume. The New Year brings with it the ultimate reset: not just a new week, day, or month, but a whole brand new year that you get to use however you want to use it. Lessons learned and experience gained from last year are now the latest tools in your backpack for journeying along life’s winding roads. It’s true that you get to make a different choice at any moment to make a change or experiment with a fresh way of doing things, but the beginning of the year has the energy of change and growth. As a world we say, “Let’s start over! Onward!”

This time of year also marks the beginning of the next chapter in one’s life. Every December I want to look back at this moment and be in awe of how the year began and how it ended. I like to remember years by the major events that happened and goals that I met in that twelve month span. For example, 2013 was “the year I went to Bali” and 2014 was remembered as “the year I had surgery.”  I’m still thinking about how I want to remember the year of 2015.

January may also be the most optimistic period of the year when you wonder what’s to come, then plan, dream, and move forward. Now is your chance to use the inspiration you feel to take hold of the next 52 weeks and make of them what you want. I set goals rather than resolutions because I want to make it “the year that I [accomplished that goal].” I don’t overwhelm myself with this list, just three to five things I want to accomplish. I generate ideas by asking myself what it is that I want to do with my life at this time. What am I always saying I want to do that I haven’t gotten around to doing yet? What skills have I been wanting to acquire or sharpen? Where do I want to visit? What new approach to relationships do I want to try? It doesn’t have to be a huge accomplishment or a whole list of things. All that matters is that you make one meaningful goal for yourself and take the steps to achieve it. 

Let’s make the most of this year and every year! I wish you health, adventure, good fortune, love, and creativity - now and always.  

--Jessica Lagos is an EAP Consultant for Anthem EAP in San Diego, California.