Build a Better 2021

Ok, I’ll just say it. 2020 was a complete shizzle show.

And the way that 2021 kicked off hasn’t left many of us feeling very hopeful. Despite the flipping of the calendar, for most of us, 2021 may not hold all the promise a new year normally brings. We have all suffered a lot of loss over the past year. And whether you’ve lost loved ones due to the pandemic or not, 2020 brought with it challenges and changes that we all were forced to deal with.

For me, 2020 was the worst year I’ve ever lived through. Aside from losing my mother two years ago, I’ve never experienced such grief and loss as I did in 2020. Five members of my family passed away in 2020. Not all were related to COVID-19, but some were. We all dealt with fear of the unknown and changes to our normal lives that we could have never imagined. Some days felt as though we were all living through some cheesy horror movie; one in which a deadly virus took over our lives and everyday decency went out the window. Neighbors turned against each other and we all saw the division that plagues our country as wholly as the virus has in a harsh and unforgiving light.

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The really sad and somewhat frightening thing is, it’s not over. Flipping a page on a calendar doesn’t change our circumstances, not really. We still have a long way to go and a rough road ahead of us. This may not be the pick me up you wanted to hear right now, but it is the truth. You may be hurting right now. You may have lost loved ones. You may have lost your job. You may be grieving the loss of life as we all once knew it. I understand. I am grieving too.

So how do we move forward? How do we find our center again? Check out the 3 tips below:

1. Let the past remain the past-- While I agree that the date on the calendar doesn’t change our circumstances, that doesn’t mean that it can’t serve as a reminder that we are allowed to move forward. No, we didn’t wake up on January 1st with the world magically back to normal. But we also don’t have to bring the same negative energy that tormented us in 2020 forward into this new year. Everyday is a chance at a new beginning. Make the choice to not allow what happens externally to affect what you feel internally.

2. Practice gratitude-- When you’re feeling down, it can be hard to find things to be thankful for, but I promise you they are there. It’s very difficult to practice gratitude and continue to feel down. The two simply don’t go together. Start by listing at least three things that you are grateful for each day. I bet you in no time, you’ll be able to produce a pretty substantial list and you will see your mood improve.

3. Talk to someone-- While talking to a therapist is always a good idea, you don’t necessarily have to go to a professional to obtain the benefits from talking it out. Often, just sharing your emotions with a close friend can work wonders to improve your mood. An added bonus is that your friend will most likely be able to share in your emotions. It’s always reassuring to know that you are not the only one going through it.

4. *BONUS*: Seek counseling-- Like I said before, talking to a friend can be extremely beneficial, but if you feel like you need a little more than just an understanding ear, or you feel your mood has taken a serious turn for the worse, seeking a therapist is a good idea. While you may just feel down due to the rough year we all had, it may also be in your best interest to ensure the past year hasn’t triggered something more serious for you that may need professional attention.

So, that’s all folks. I know that some of these tips are easier said than done, but I fully believe that if you put the effort into doing these things, you will feel much better in the long run. Do you have any additional tips for how to re-elevate your mood after the past year? Let me know in the comments below!

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I really hope that this information is helpful to you. If you feel like it is, please be sure to share with your friends, because someone needs this! And be sure to subscribe to future blog posts because I don’t want you to miss any of this information that’s designed to help you live your best life!

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