Out with the Old: How to Have a Better Year in 2022!

The new year is always the time when everyone swears off their bad habits and vows to adopt new ones. “New year, new me” posts leave most of us rolling our eyes because by now we realize that 99% of the time the new year doesn’t change squat about a person’s character or habits.

There is nothing magical about the clock striking midnight on January 1st that automatically entitles you to a happier, more productive life; however, there’s no need to get down about it. You absolutely can have a better year if you want to, but it’s going to take some work. Also, it doesn’t matter when you decide you want to have a better year. Whether it’s January 1st or August 15th, you can decide to pivot and do better at any time. You don’t have to wait fora new year to roll around to aim for better!

And with that being said, I present to you below my 5 tips to have a better year in 2022!

Be Honest with Yourself

If you want better, you have to be willing to look at what didn’t work for you in the past. This requires self-reflection and brutal honesty. Did you not lose weight because you refused to be disciplined and actually use your gym membership? Did you not start the business because you were too afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone? Was your relationship with God not where it should be because you didn’t invest the time to pray, study your word, or go to church?

Please understand, this isn’t about beating yourself up. We all have flaws, and we’re all growing. But if you want to have a better year, it requires you to look at your life and ask, “Was there anything I could have done differently that would have given me the outcome I desire?”

Ask God for Help

Once you’ve taken stock of what did and didn’t work for you last year, the most important thing to do is to ask God for His help. In all actuality, you really should ask Him for His help in step one as well, because He’s great at revealing the areas we need to improve in when we can’t readily see them ourselves.

You want to get God involved in your plans this year. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to lean on Him and acknowledge Him in everything we do so that He can direct us. The Holy Spirit is here to help lead and guide us and to empower us to fulfill our purpose. We need Him in order to be the best versions of ourselves, so don’t try to go at this alone! Pray and ask Him to partner with you then be obedient as He directs you.

Get a Clear Vision

Proverbs 29:18 says that without vision people cast off restraint. This means that where there is no vision, we run wild and undisciplined. Having a clear vision helps us stay on the right path. It keeps us from running all over the place, without direction or purpose. When we tend to the vision God gives us, it gives us somehting to aim at. Vision causes us to hunker down and get serious. It helps develop patience, endurance, discipline, consistency, and commitmment – all things we need if we want to achieve more and have a better year in 2022.

Set SMART Goals

Similar to having a vision, having goals gives us something to aim at. The difference is that while vision looks at the big picture, our goals help us take action steps that make that picture a reality.

When it comes to setting goals, you should aim to make them SMART. Smart goal are: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based. See the graphic below for a breakdown of each word.

Credit; https://explorecreatelearngrow.com/2020/02/04/smart-goals/

When we make our goals SMART, we increase our chances of actually achieving them. Being clear, specific, and realistic helps us see the better year we desire actually come into fruition.

Surround yourself with the right people

I’ve often heard the quote, “You are the average of the 5 people you hang around most often”. It’s so true! Who we surround ourselves with – either in person or online – has an enormous impact on how we think, how we act, and how much we achieve. The Bible even alludes to this in 1 Corinthians 15:33 when it says, “Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Who we spend our time with is a major indicator of where we’re going to end up!

If you want to have a better year, surround yourself with better people. If the people around you are not trying to grow and improve; if they don’t want to get closer to God and transform into the person God has called them to be, then cut your losses and find people who do! I am a firm believer that we should all get away from those who have our problems, and get around thos who have our answers. Find other people who are where you want to be – or who are headed there – and link up with them. You’ll go further faster when you have a companion than you ever could trying to do it alone.

You got this!

I know some of the changes you want to make may seem daunting, but friend, I truly believe you can do all things through Christ if you simply decide to do the work on your end. Christ is always going to come through on His end and give you the grace to run the race, but only you can lace up your sneakers and get on the track. Don’t let what happened last year deter you. Chile, you got this!