Opinion: A life coach shares how to stay happy and motivated in 2023

2022 broke free mental and physical barriers for us to resume life once again, and as the sun rises for 2023, the hope is to take the learnings of the past few years and determine with clarity what we want from the next 365 days

Another year has come and gone. Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, revenge travel exploded, and the pent-up need to be among others and to just live once again became reality. As 2023 quickly crept up, I reflected on the past few years. 2020 was a year of uncertainty, slowing down, and cocooning ourselves to what was most important. 2021 was challenging as we adapted to the stillness in our lives amidst the volatile changes of the pandemic around the world.

You are the CEO of your life

When circumstances are not in our control, we need to learn to let them go and focus on the present moment. Covid-19 taught us this, and as the pandemic slowly fades behind us, we need to stop making excuses and push ourselves out of our comfort zone to see what we can truly accomplish. I love the saying that we are in charge of our lives. We are truly CEOs and drivers of the choices, both good and bad that we make. If you reflect upon your life right now, feeling proud and content with where you are; you are responsible for the choices you took, to get you here. If you feel the opposite, desolate and unhappy; in the same way, you are responsible for the choices you took, that led you here. Unfortunate incidents happen to us all, it's not lucky happy people that don't experience hardship and challenges. What
sets you apart is how you deal with adversity and stand back up.

As you pen down your resolutions, intentions, or goals for the year, think carefully about what structural changes to your life you want to make. If we think of common goals of "losing weight" or "being successful", truthfully most resolutions don't make it past February. Instead, making structural changes to your life to achieve goals such as; getting up 30 minutes earlier every day might help you squeeze in a workout, meditate or read, which are tasks all associated with successful people. Thinking more about a lifestyle change might holistically help you reach more goals.

1 / 1

Resolutions as a Family

My favourite way to start the new year is with a little exercise I do with my family. We've done this for over four years, and it's brought about motivation, accountability, gratitude, and clarity. My son was only seven when we started this process so don't be afraid to challenge children to think about what they want to achieve in life.

We begin by writing down three things from the previous year we are most happy or proud about. We then write three things we are excited about and want to achieve for the new year. We then list out three things per family member we wish for them to achieve. Then we read what we previously wrote from the past year and see how far we have come. Sometimes goals were met, and we celebrate those wins, and other times we didn't achieve what we wanted. It is a great way to encourage kids to know what they are working towards and have the motivation to keep going. As a family we do it together, being accountable for each other's success.

Staying Motivated in 2023

As you formulate your resolutions, ponder your yearly intention, or get stuck on your goals, try, and think of a word or sentence for 2023. For me, this year is: step up.
After keeping my head above water in 2020, feeling frustrated in 2021, and living in 2022, this new year from me is about stepping up. As a holistic word, this constant reminder motivates me to be better in all aspects of my life as a business owner, mother, wife, friend and even as a simple human here on earth who wants to make an impact and do better.

Find your word, write it down, and keep it in a place where you constantly see it.

Remember you get what you work for, not just what you wish for. Here is to a fabulous 2023!