Work, Life, Growth

2022 has come to a close and 2023 is here. Looking back at 2022, I was able to accomplish a great deal and I am very thankful for that. In the midst of all of that, growth wouldn’t have occurred had I not had some pitfalls and failures. One of my biggest fears is failure, and I constantly remind myself that it is a fact of life. We will fail at some things and succeed at others, but the risk of failure should not keep us from trying and aiming for more.

Honestly speaking, I did not set my goals for 2022 until the year was half over because of the fear. The fear of failure and the fear of the unknown can be crippling. Looking back, I realize that I wasted a great amount of time avoiding taking certain steps because of my fears. I stayed in a position that I was unhappy with for much longer that what I should have because I was afraid that I would fail on my next endeavor. I made excuses about how I could not move forward, rather than try to seek out solutions. And, I allowed self-doubt to win far too many times.

Hopefully, in 2023 I can take what I have learned from the previous year and avoid making the same mistakes. I am a big planner and it is easy for me to get caught up in planning and fail to execute. I spend so much time planning to avoid failing and to consider every potential option, that I have also missed out on opportunities. Planning is important, but for me it is a way to stall and remain static because I become paralyzed by fear.

Now that I have this hindsight and recognize my faults, being paralyzed by fear and becoming stalled in the planning phase, I hope these tips to overcome can help someone else. And, I’ll likely need to come back to remind myself of these as 2023 continues.

1. Planning

Yes, I know I just said that I stall out during planning; yet, planning is still important. If you have a goal, at least make steps to move towards that goal and set check points along the way. As you reach a checkpoint, give yourself credit and take a moment to bask in that accomplishment.  Check point will keep you focused and also provide you with insight about what additional work needs to be done. Write your goal down and write out the steps that need to be completed in order to obtain that goal. I am a visual person and like to actually see progress. Because of this charts work really well for me.

2. Execute even if things are not 100%

Like I said, I am a planner and like to have everything sorted out prior to starting. But, this can be debilitating because I find myself refusing to move forward. I feel like I can always make the plan better if I just have more time, and this is probably true. However, there comes a point in the planning process where you need to execute and move forward. No matter how much guidance you receive or time you take to plan, something unforeseeable will happen. When the unforeseeable happens, you have to respond and be able to adapt to the change. Proper planning can help to mitigate many situations, but it will not prevent everything. It is important that you be ready to execute your plan once you have reached a particular checkpoint or milestone. Just remember that when you do execute, you still must continue to plan.

3. Adapt to change

When you develop your plan, determine your checkpoints, and decide to finally execute you must remember to adapt to change. Yes, there are times where change can be a hindrance. You need to be willing to adjust your plan when a more efficient or effective way is identified. Making this type of adaptation may cause you to have to redo certain plans, but if it will be more prosperous long-term, then it is an adaptation work making. (Do not forget that some change may cause you to consider compromising your beliefs. Thankfully, I am not talking about that kind of change because if it is making you question your morals then it is a change you do not need.)

4. Seek out guidance

There is no shortage of advice out there, but not all of it is worth your time. Seek out reputable sources that want you to succeed and care about your purpose. Finding someone that cares about the reason why you are working towards a goal is important. Personally speaking, I do not believe that we should have our why be based on how much revenue we can generate or how many likes we can gain. Instead, I feel your purpose should be more meaningful. If you seek out a coach or mentor, make sure you put them through an interview process because you want for them to be invested in you, hold you accountable to your goals, and remind you of your purpose when things become challenging.

And, this brings me to the last point.

5. Know your purpose

After much frustration professionally and with my homelife during 2022, a change was needed. I wanted to be able to spend more time with my young children, but also wanted to be able to have a career. In my professional life, I was frustrated and annoyed with how I was not able to provide my patients with the care that I felt they needed and deserved. Some of the frustration in my professional life, was due to the battles with insurance and the demands of the setting in which I was working. I knew a change was needed, and decided to develop a model that would allow for me to fulfill these desires. The purposes behind my decision are because my husband deserves a wife who is not on the verge of a mental, my children deserve a mother who is present and able to enjoy watching them grow, and my patients deserve a healthcare provider who has the bandwidth to hear their story and focus on their individual needs.

The year of 2022 was full of much triumph, and a whole lot of faith. It was also filled with failures and shortcomings. It was filled with success and defeat. More importantly, 2022 was filled with reminders that I am still working to become the person I aspire to be.

Happy New Year and may your 2023 be blessed!