Does the year really change?

 

What is change, really? It means something is different than before.

A river changes its course or composition, a tree grows, animals go through the cycle of life, and humans…

We, humans…?

With humans, things are more complex. We could say we change according to our age or our career. It can be that our change was just esthetical or ethical, we change our perception about other people or even an experience of past.

Then we come to the change of the year… We all know the year does not really change; it is just a perception or a system invented by us. In fact, the Chinese New Year, is a few weeks later and a big part of humankind will celebrate THAT New Year, not the December, 31^st one…

It means that although the year does not change and nothing changes with the year, it changes… in our minds.

And there are 3 things to explore and have a better change of year:

• The new year is a big opportunity. The things you couldn’t do before, the things you dream and those you don’t dream, all can happen this year.
• Training and education. To make those opportunities real there is a need in terms of training. The change curve is quite steep nowadays for anything, even the harmless objects at home, particularly with AI’s invading the day-to-day life. So, understand the opportunities being opened with this new year and what qualities or competencies you will need to harvest them, and plan your education process.
• Resources… Yes, you will need resources to really take advantage of anything emerging with the new year. Besides the physical wealth that will help to get a proper education, there are also intangible resources, such as peace, courage and enthusiasm. Words of wisdom from a close friend or relative and the millions of videos, books, lectures, workshops, seminars, etc. that promote wellness or self-improvement, work like gold too.

This new year, identify the opportunities and dreams you want to fulfill and live, educate and train yourself to achieve them, and trust the invisible resources within you. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Zeppelins & kites

The desire of humans to break from earth, to fly above and beyond is very old, and it seems we have all made it.

But there are means of flying that have been restricted to a mythical realm, like flying carpets. And other means have stimulated the myth so much that they turned to reality… and it is a good point of reflection about its meaning.

After all, we can easily fly nowadays, but we are still trapped by the gravity of our situations and maybe there is a response in those artifacts that turned into myths.

 

Zeppelin

The Zeppelin had a very interesting story and helped changing the communication and transport between Europe and America. Just to know, the Queen Mary ship could take 5 days to cross the Atlantic, while the Zeppelin spent half of that time.

Even though it had a very tragic end and it was mixed with war during its existence, it shows the importance of crossing distance, even with a pending danger.

In relationships, many times we must be the ones to cross the distance and to come close to another person. There is always a danger that relationship may explode… so we have to be careful and dream even higher.

 

Kites

They look like very common objects, but if you have one of them in your childhood, no doubt you experienced its magic.

In a very famous tale, Ray Bradbury uses the magical kite to solve a conflict between two cities: one city, pictured a Golden Kite at their gate, showing its beauty and the other city showed a Silver Wind. The wind without a kite is not so beautiful; a kite without wind can’t do much.

As a person, you can fly very high in your dreams, but you will always need someone’s help, so that your dream can turn into a reality.

Managing this new reality

How do we manage reality? Besides the physiological side ( the way the brain deals with things), a friend of mine once expressed his point of view and it was very interesting: think as if you have a copy of the external things in your mind and when you relate to them, you are doing it with that copy, not with the reality.

Therefore the problems we experience in terms of dealing with situations come from the difference between the real and the copy. An example:

A friend of mine wanted a bike to go to work; eventually he got it, but the real one didn’t work as he was living about 15 Km far plus the traffic… the end of that dream was an accident he suffered.

The bike to go to work was a copy and the 15 Km far plus the traffic was the reality that crushed his dreams.

Now, what happens when there is a new reality? Particularly when the reality is totally new, we come with a similar copy in our minds, an approximate reference, and we relate to it. It comes from (ours and others’) opinions, ideas and past experiences, beliefs and values, personality, will and a personal call. But it is very different from the reality itself, probably much more different than the example before…

Let’s imagine there is a big sale of bicycles in a huge store. Immediately, a person sees themselves already mounting a very modern shine bike. They go to the shop and there is a huge queue in front and when eventually they reach the place where to get the bicycle, the only thing remaining is not modern, not at all shining…

Another way is to not let yourself be convinced by the copy you carry in your mind. Instead you challenge your perception and you are able to align the copy with the real thing.

Instead of let yourself being fooled by the sale of bicycles, you research more and you are able to find the perfect bike – as perfect as possible – at some shop. You are aware it is not exactly what you wanted, but the price is good and for now, that will be it.

It is not as easy as it sounds, since it means you have to challenge opinions, ideas, past experiences, beliefs, values, personality, your will and call… But you can do it.

Particularly with the new reality we are all living, the best thing is to stop for a moment and align the inner copy with the reality. A few powerful questions may help you:

• Why am I feeling like this? What is the real cause?
• If I don’t like something, what is it possible to get that comes closer to what I like? What should I do to make it happen?
• When it is impossible to live with the reality, what can I do to cope with it? If I can’t cope, what is the alternative I can live, so that I don’t suffer?

 

Coaching for a better new year

The change of year, even though it happens so often and in a predictable way, stimulates novelty, hope and sometimes adventure.

There is an extra energy in the mind and the will power is stronger than in other times of the year.

So, here are a few powerful questions for reflection that may help you in your self-growth:

• What are the dreams that will be brought about in this year that is starting?
• How do I visualize myself at the end of the next year? What can I do to make it happen?
• In which way can I change my life so that I experience I am starting a new chapter, or even a new book?
• How to put my hopes into practice, turning them into actions and making them part of my life?
• What is it impossible, but I will do it this year?
• How will I empower myself so that all my wishes and desires are fulfilled?
• What are the new adventure, fun and positive anxiety, which will start this year?
• How much will I embrace change and generate transformation?
• And no matter what happens, how do I keep myself being myself: authentic?

Dreaming is the most important thing – Reason 63

The present can be uncertain, the past is sometimes foggy and the future is completely unknown, but dreams have the effect of helping us to live our lives.

Then, after a certain age or period of time, dreams just stop for most people.   Ironically it seems initially like a blessing, because the person starts to flow with life.  You probably know the feeling: eat whatever is there, do whatever the boss says, laugh when it is supposed to and, of course, cry at the right moment.

Leaders don’t fall into that trap, because they know the present moments may also be clearer if there are dreams or goals, in fact even the past takes on a different meaning.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

 

You will never feel disappointed - Reason 55

The reason people feel let down by others is simple: expectations.  The solution is also simple: don’t have expectations.  It is so easy, right?

It is certainly easier if you don’t know the other person or if you don’t have anything to do with anyone else.  In other words, if you don’t want to feel frustrated, just isolate yourself and don’t try to meet people...

For a leader, things are different, because expectations turn into dreams and good wishes for others.  That is, if they succeed, the leader will be very happy; if they don’t, the leader will be there to help them dealing with it.

By not feeling disappointed, leaders keep their doors open; they continue to give new opportunities to others and to assist them to find new openings.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)

 

Dreams become reality – Reason 47

Everyone dreams, but leaders embody their dreams and at some point, turn them into reality.  How?

Just as with any person, a leader’s dream comes from many sources: aspirations, inspirations, other people’s lives and even movies.  Leaders take a step further: their dreams are not only imagination, but they are a valuable experience.

That experience the leader is going through generates a reflection, which is a very important stage into converting dream into reality as it enables the leader to understand that dream and how to make reality change into it.

From reflection, the leader acts, changing his or her life so that a change is welcome and the dream stops being a dream and is a part of life.

(Excerpt from the book 82 Reasons to be a Leader)