New Year’s has come and gone, and now we’re full-on into 2020. All the hub-bub of the holidays are past, and we’re starting to get back into our normal daily routines with work, school, and family life.

I had a tumultuous 2019, and I want to be positive for 2020.

About halfway through 2019, I decided to focus on activities that would be helpful to me on my journey.

I exercise regularly, meditate daily, and have loaded up podcasts and books to help me learn better behaviors and on how to practice being a better person.

Many years ago, I chose to incorporate the twelve steps of Adult Children of Alcoholics into my life. If you’re not interested in the twelve steps, then whatever works for you to help you with dealing with your past trauma—go for it! (Therapy, yoga, meditation, reading, etc.)

I look at things this way: When I wanted to learn how to run a marathon, I followed a training plan. I didn’t wake up one day and say, “I think today I’m going to run a marathon.” I had two years of running under my belt before I started a training program that got me to the 26.2 miles. It was hard work, but I’ll share this:

In anything that I’ve had to accomplish in life, there are no shortcuts.

And looking back, the work I undertook along the way helped me learn what I needed to to achieve my goal. I’ve written novels, created podcasts, run half, and full marathons—all of these accomplishments took effort, perseverance, and hard work.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

When I am up against a really difficult challenge, I make certain that I break up the goal into smaller chunks. Writing 1,000 words four times a week over several months is a lot easier to do than to say: “I want to write a book, but I don’t know where to start.” Or even worse, to start on a journey but give up because the goal hasn’t been clearly defined.

If you want to make changes in your life, what I’ve found that works for me is starting small. I also surround myself with positivity. The shows I watch, the podcasts I listen to, the music I dance to when I’m beaten down, and the books that I read.

I believe in the power of a support network around me.

By building up a positive support group around me, I have people in my life who can help support me when I need someone to listen to me, and I’ve built out playlists and activities to help me.

Some of them you might laugh at: When I’m really in a sour mood and exhausted, then I know I need to sleep. Other times I go for a walk or a run. Or meditate or listen to The Beatles (or other uplifting music).

Start small and then build.

Build a strong foundation and then expand from there.

I know you can do it!

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.

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