12/12/12.
Crazy date, huh? Many individuals around the world strongly believe that today is going to be a big day. It has been suggested that the ancient Mayan calendar’s cycle will stop and then restart, and that some significant event will take place in the universe. The predictions range from cataclysmic events to the world being “reborn.”
I am not one to comment on the alignment of the planets or the activities of the cosmos (all I know is… they are bigger than I am!), but I do resonate with the idea of a “re-birth.” I am a believer in the power of change and the positive outcomes that can accompany it. I also believe that each individual has the ability to enact their own personal transformation.
Doesn’t today – this famed and anticipated date – seem like the perfect time to pursue that change? If today you feel a renewed energy and a desire for “re-birth,” here are three catalysts that I have found to be effective for growth in my own life…
- Be honest with yourself. Maybe the transformation you are seeking requires that you take a step back and honestly evaluate yourself, where you are in life and where you would like to be going. This raw honesty demands that you admit your mistakes and shortcomings and face them head on. Resist the urge to blame others or make excuses for personal failures; instead, own them, correct them and take the initiative to move forward.
- Don’t limit yourself. Perhaps the change you have decided to pursue involves taking a personal or professional risk. I would encourage you to boldly and confidently move forward. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard the phrase, “If I had it to do all over again, I would…” Avoid being in this position! Forget about what anyone says you can’t or shouldn’t do and focus on what you can. And don’t talk yourself out of it.
- Enjoy being yourself. Here is one of the most transformational actions that one can take: enjoy being in your own skin. Be comfortable with who you are. Many times we are striving to get more out of life without simply enjoying being. The discipline of being intentional in appreciating who you are and what you contribute to the world can reap priceless benefits. Consider fully how precious and unique you are, and relish that moment of recognition!
Hopefully the fact that you are reading this indicates that the world has not ended. However, I hope that it does indicate that you are ready for a change. I encourage you to embrace this coming season and discover what is waiting for you on the other side!
– Clifford A. Bailey
speaker, catalyst for change