Time gets away from me more often than I care to admit. Have you heard? It’s already a New Year! I get caught up in routines, new ideas and motivations and, no matter how many lists or maps I make, there are some times when I just can’t seem to beat the clock. But, do I feel ashamed? Nope. Am I putting my time to good use? Yep. Am I still learning and growing? Heck yep. Do I really need to “beat the clock” anyway? Heck nope.

As we start off 2017 (and celebrate B3’s first birthday on January 10!) I want to share some healthy tidbits before you all get lost trying to fit the “New Year, New You” mold that seems to be a prerequisite for accomplishing anything else.

When the New Year comes, it immediately makes us feel behind. We start off the year feeling like failures because we are forced into this time-sensitive “New Year, New You” mentality. In reality, the New Year does not require you to change who you are – it implies it. The clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve and a worldwide alarm goes off that pressures us to believe we’re not good enough. “Ding, ding, ding! It’s a New Year. Where’s the new you? Let’s get you changed up. You’re behind.” But, guess what? You can overcome this implication just by being your honest to goodness self. The only requirement you’ll ever have in life is to be YOU.

Now, the holidays may be over but, in my eyes, it’s always the season of giving so…give yourself a break. In light of the New Year and in celebration of B3 turning one (yay!), I propose a challenge to help you do just that.

Stay you this year. Stop putting pressure on yourself to be a new and improved, perfect, cookie-cutter version. It ain’t gonna happen. You do not need to be perfect. You do not need to be new. You just need to be YOU. Keep charging forward at your own pace and don’t feel rushed. Celebrate your milestones. Accept and learn from your failures. Keep messing up and following your heart. Don’t survive. THRIVE.

The B3 Breakthrough Challenge

From now until this day in 2018, make a note of one thing a day you are proud of yourself for. Believe me, while you may not realize it now, there are way more than 365 things that make you awesome. We’ll do it together!

Start a jar, a shoe box, a notebook, mark it on your phone, tablet or computer. Set a reminder to breathe and be positive each day for a moment and make your note.

Example: I am proud of myself for admitting my faults.
Example: I am proud of myself for going the extra mile.
Example: I am proud of myself for taking a day off to recharge.
Example: I am proud of myself for getting out of bed today.

Then, in one year, I want you to read all your notes, remember who wrote them and realize that you are still that same, strong you and you are the only one in control of your time, happiness, and growth whether it’s a New Year or not.

“Very little is needed to make a happy life. It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” – Marcus Aurelius

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