I don’t know about you, but I’m starting to get perturbed about how people approach the new year. These past two years have certainly been rough, so I understand it when people say, “I sure hope next year will be better than this one!” Don’t we always?
Still even as tough as these past two years have been, there have been silver linings. At the very beginning of the pandemic, I wrote about the lessons I was just starting to learn. (Here’s what I wrote in April 2020.) Since then, I’ve realized so much more I have to be grateful for, even during some pretty damn tough times.
I heard an interview recently about how we’ve become addicted to bad news. This negativity bias is powerful. Our brain reacts more intensely to negative stimuli than it does to good news. So much so that even when lots of good things happen during a day, we still only ruminate on what went wrong. The news coverage that gets the most attention is the bad news. So, there are some outlets people go to for news that dwell only on stories, true or untrue, that work people up and keep them glued to their screens. (Here’s more info on negativity bias.)
The tendency to get caught up in doom and gloom is exactly why gratitude journals are so beneficial. Sometimes it takes a conscious effort to look on the sunny side of life, especially during a hurricane. And it certainly feels like we’ve been caught in a tsunami.
If you haven’t done so in a while, take a bit of time to make a list of the good things that happened in 2021. I know you can make a mental note, but it impacts the brain so much more to write things down. We need to use all our superpowers to overcome that nasty negativity bias.
I bet there’s more than you remember. Of course, you should think about the things that happened in your life, but I also suggest you take a look at what happened around the world. I googled “Good things that happened in 2021” and found a treasure trove of articles about positive things to write down. It made me feel better to know not all the news is bad. I know the economy is making a comeback. Most of my consulting clients had their best year ever this year.
The hope that next year will be better also gets under my skin because it takes more than hope to make things happen. Part of what got me through the pandemic was my Jen Sincero button. Anytime I felt a little funky, I’d push my Badass button to get sage advice from the author of “You are a Badass,” and her newest paperback book, “Badass Habits,” in her own voice! Hearing her tell me, “You create your own reality,” and “You can DO IT,” gave me the push I need to keep moving forward.
Our upcoming Badass Women of Wichita Alliance “meetings” are going to help you kick ass in the new year. I’m especially excited to team up with one of my favorite people, Cindy Coughenour, the founder of Fierce and Female for a fundraiser for the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center (WASAC). Her energy and passion are off the charts, which makes her a lot of fun to be around.
I’m also over the moon excited to hang out with Jen Sincero again, even though it’s only virtually. Be sure to email Watermark Books for your space in the virtual room. That’s coming up on Tuesday, January 11th. See more details below.
The new year is going to bring ups and downs, just like every other year. Hopefully, there are more ups than downs, and that you find the strength to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can and wonderful and devoted friends that will post your bail when you finally snap!
Happy New Year!
Headmistress Jill