#PEACEOUT2020: 4 reasons we need to let go of 2020
If we all can agree on one thing, it's that 2020 has been a shit show.
Do you even remember what you set as your goals or intentions for this year? I know, January feels like 4 years ago at least. Do you remember thinking in December 2019 that 2020 was going to be your year?
We've been continually confronted this year. We've been going through something traumatic for 9 months now. Our everyday lives turned upside down in what felt like a matter of days.
We need to continue to be graceful with ourselves and others while we continue to adapt, learn, and grow.
That's why this new year is going to require much more than the shallow "new year, new me" mentalities and simple yet unattainable resolutions.
If you're still not convinced, here are four reasons why we need to move on from 2020 before we kick-off the new year.
1. It's been a LONG year
We've been living in fear the we or someone we love will get sick. We went from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to being forced to stay at home and (many of us) working from home for months on end with few in-person social interactions.
Many people were blindsided by being laid off, furloughed, or being isolated for months at a time.
All of this on top of social, economic, and political unrest.
We've been living in fear of our future, while clinging to the past and how life used to be.
I know more than once I've started crying while watching a show simply because it showed the simple things I miss like hugging friends or being in crowded venues.
I remind us of all of this because I want to normalize that it is okay that you didn't accomplish your goals this year. It's okay if your planner just collected dust this year.
It's okay if you didn't start a business or write a book or wear anything other than sweatpants since March.
2. It didn't go as anyone hoped or planned
I don't think anyone was expecting a global pandemic to hit this year when they were setting their New Year's resolutions.
Personally, I had just filed for my LLC at the end of February, and hosted my first in-person workshop on March 10th. Then on March 11th, Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.
I spent several months retreating. I was so disappointed, frustrated, sad, and angry. Just when my business was finding momentum, BAM! I thought many times about giving up.
I thought, how can I empower others when I don't feel empowered? I was afraid that nobody would ever spend money on a coach when there is so much else going on in the world and their lives.
Then I began to turn my attention to these feelings. I let myself sit in these feelings and explore them deeper. I let myself cry.
By doing this, I was able to release them. I was able to see them for what they were, and not let them control my actions.
3. We don't want to have a grudge against 2020
When you're stewing in your brew of disappointment, fear, and frustration it can feel like you're carrying around extra weight on your shoulders, like choosing to carry around bricks in your backpack while hiking.
We've all probably said something like "can 2020 just be over already?" or "this was a waste of a year." This is simply us holding a grudge against 2020 and blaming it for all these extra feelings and weight.
When we hold onto a grudge we are essentially playing the victim in our own life. We make excuses for everything and put off what we really want to do because we're so distracted by this heavy weight we're carrying.
Holding onto your grudge is like holding onto that heavy backpack for dear life because without it we wouldn't have anything to explain our circumstances or why the hike feels difficult.
By acknowledging your feelings and your grudges, you're able to let go of the bricks along the trail, one by one.
4. We can't keep hoping for things to go back to 'normal'
We've all heard the language 'new normal' and many of us put off our plans and goals while we've been waiting for some semblance of normal.
The thing is, life may never look the way it did back in January 2020 again.
When we hold onto this idea of going back to the way things were, or clinging to 'normalcy,' we are denying that anything is happening or that things have changed.
However, by accepting that things have changed, we're able to let go.
By letting go, we can be in the present moment and begin to make decisions that will lead us to where we want to be in the future.
The fog begins to clear and we can see where we're headed and what it will take to get there.
These four reasons are what inspired me to create my #PEACEOUT2020 challenge.
If you're ready to say peace out to 2020, join me for four weeks of challenges to help you let go of 2020 and kick-off 2021. By the end, you'll walk away with less judgment, grudges, and weight attached to 2020 and intentions, goals, and an action plan for 2021. You can join the challenge here.
Brittany is a life & leadership coach, trainer, and the founder of Hello Velocity where she helps ambitious individuals and corporate teams enhance their performance by working smarter, not harder. When she isn't building her business, you can find her planning her next travel adventure, taking a yoga or kickboxing class, or checking out a local brewery. She was recently acknowledged as one of the top coaches in Charlotte, NC.
