In the weeks leading up to New Year's, people begin to make their New Year's Resolutions. Firm decisions made--written down or spoken aloud--proclaiming that they will do OR not do something. In my experiences, most people make these resolutions with little or no preparation, thereby setting themselves up for failure. Then in the days, weeks, and months months (if they are lucky to last that long) that follow they lose focus and give up on said resolutions. They are left with the bitter after-taste of regret, upset that they did not fulfill those firm decisions that they were once so passionate about when the calendar year clicked over. Hey, we are only human. And for some reason, it seems people think that if their New Year's Resolution Report Card or Sticker Chart isn't perfect, they should JUST GIVE UP. There is no middle ground, or so it seems.
So, what is a person to do?
If New Year's Resolutions are generally unsuccessful, how about we change our narrative? How about we choose to change the language and make the verbiage a little less intense?
Now, I'm not saying that these committments or goals should be less important, but maybe I would say these alternative declarations could be sprinkled with more grace, therefore allowing a person to not feel so disappointed if their goal is not acheived on a daily basis.
Life choices and changes should not be about achieiving perfection, but about being PERSISTENT in the choices you do make. If you mess up, you pick yourself up and try again.
So, as 2017 arrives tomorrow, I am choosing to make New Year's RESTORATIONS.
You may be wondering exactly what I mean by that...a New Year's Restoration?
When you look up the word restoration, it TECHNICALLY means "to return something back to the original condition." Well, that is all well and good.
We can look at something in our life that we may not be 100% happy about and make a commitment to restore that area to what it once used to be. But, did you know there is a more "spiritual" definition to restoration?
I believe that creavity and writing are often times spiritual, whether or not we acknowledge it as that. As we create, we pour out our souls, showing the world the essense of who we are. In that regard, I feel like sharing this more spiritual definition of RESTORATION with you could be eye-opening.
In the biblical sense, the meaning of restoration is defined as "receiving back more than has been lost, to the point where the final state is GREATER than the original condition."
The main point is that someone or something is improved beyoned measure!!!
Now that is what I am talking about!
So, as you approach this New Year, why not consider making some restorations in your creative life? You may feel like you've lost your passion for creativity or don't even know why you are doing it anymore. So then, wouldn't it be nice to not just RESTORE your passion, but to have a GREATER passion than you once had? To truly be renewed?
On that note, I challenge you to approach your writing/creative endeavors this year with a goal to RESTORE your "WHY" for creativity and to RENEW your passion for your craft. Because remember, sleep will not help you if your soul is tired. But self-reflection and efforts at restoration can help you rediscover the passion you have for your creativity.
Here are some other questions to ask yourself as you enter the new year:
1) Why do I create? What are my motivations for engaging in this activity?
2) Why do I love creating? Or if I'm in a rut, what did I love about it when I first started?
3) If I'm not in an optimal place in my creative path right now, what can I do to reignite this passion?
If nothing else, I hope these questions help you to look at the New Year and your creative goals differently. It is not all or nothing. If you fail at something, just try again. Persistence {not perfection} is key. And even better, if you work toward taking active steps to restore your passion, you {hopefully} won't be left with that bittter after taste the regular resolutions can leave behind.
As always, if you have any suggestions for what you do when you find your passion waning, please feel free to comment and share your ideas!
Happy NEW YEAR and HAPPY WRITING!
Whitney
"Everyone Has a Story. Write Yours."
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