Whether you make New Year’s resolutions or not, you have intentions every day of your life.
The path through this year, for most people, will be paved with good intentions until mid-January, maybe as far as February. After that it gets more like crazy paving.
No matter what you had planned, the universe happens. And your resolutions, your good intentions, fade into the background.
Why? Because intentions aren’t actions. Because resolve doesn’t carry any weight unless *you* make it so. Because it takes more than willpower to change a habit for the better.
Because it takes a special kind of courage to own yourself.
Don’t Hold Back
Listen, you already know what you’re capable of.
I don’t mean stuff like “I can write a blog post” or “I can bake a cake”. I mean you know what you’re really capable of.
Maybe you don’t like to admit it, but you know you could do a lot more and a lot better than you have so far. You’ve held yourself back, hoping that somebody would come along and make it easier for you.
Let go.
Let go of what you want to believe. Let go of must, mustn’t, can and can’t. Own yourself and everything about yourself, all your strengths and weaknesses, without white lies or misconceptions.
Know what you truly want. Know what needs to happen to make it possible. If you need a second opinion on this part, use The Google or ask someone you trust to state the obvious. (“Yes Sophie, if you want to write freelance blog posts you will have to contact blog owners.”)
Now, before you start working to achieve your goals, look at the field of play. It’s a landscape in space and time.
Birds soar because they know where and when to find rising air currents. Boxers knock out their opponents because they know where and when to punch. When you identify the right place and time to take action, the right foothold, the right channel, the glass jaw of the universe…
Use it.
Win Training for a Brave New Year
Today’s prize is a place for one Be a Freelance Blogger reader on Chris Brogan‘s newest training program, Brave New Year. You’ll learn why willpower is not the problem, and how to create a change that lasts.
For your chance to win, all you have to do is share this message on Twitter [click to tweet it now]:
“Thank you @chrisbrogan, @robhatch and @sophielizard for making it a #bravenewyear. http://beafreelanceblogger.com/brave-new-year #bafb”
When you’ve tweeted that, you’re entered in the contest. I’ll choose a winner at the end of January 3rd. Good luck!
Sorry this contest is closed.
Rohi Shetty says
Hi Sophie,
“Birds soar because they know where and when to find rising air currents. Boxers knock out their opponents because they know where and when to punch. When you identify the right place and time to take action, the right foothold, the right channel, the glass jaw of the universe…
Use it.”
Wow, you surpass yourself!
Thanks for this chance to win a place in the legendary Chris Brogan’s Brave New World course.
I’ve gotten off to a great start in 2014 – completed the outline of my Mindfulness Quick-Start Guide e-book yesterday and plan to complete it by Sunday.
Thanks again for the inspiration and Happy New Year!
Sophie Lizard says
You’re welcome, Rohi – happy new year. 🙂
georgina says
I totally agree, amazing writing! Very inspiring. Also the contest is remarkable, I am in awe.
Raspal Seni says
Hi Sophie,
I’ll repeat what Rohi said – you’ve surpassed yourself! Wonderful words in that paragraph from a wonderful writer!
Thanks for a chance to win this great training program from Chris Brogan. Would like to tell you though, the link for the ”click to tweet” in the above post isn’t working, as it gives an error.
I copied and pasted the above tweet into twitter, and tweeted it. That would enter us into the the contest anyway.
I won’t say, ”I hope I win”. Whoever wins desererved it, even though this is like a lottery, using the random number generator.
Thanks again Sophie, for a chance for us to win.
Sophie Lizard says
Thanks Raspal – looks like Click To Tweet is down. Good thing I put the whole text for the tweet into the blog post, just in case! 😀
Margaret McGriff says
“No matter what you had planned, the universe happens. And your resolutions, your good intentions, fade into the background.
Why? Because intentions aren’t actions. Because resolve doesn’t carry any weight unless *you* make it so. Because it takes more than willpower to change a habit for the better.”
So true!! Starting last year when I made resolutions, I listed individual action items I needed to do in order to make the big goal and it’s been such a huge help in keeping to my resolutions. You have to have an action plan, otherwise things just won’t get done!
Total side note: When I read “make it so” Captain Picard’s voice totally popped into my head! #TrekkieMoment. 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Helper says
Haha. I’m sure Sophie will appreciate your Trekkie Moment. 😉
And that’s fantastic that you already have some practice at making plans of action for your overall goals (and, I’m assuming, following them through). Keep it up!
Sophie Lizard says
I like to think I carry an air of Picardian gravitas. ;D
Anca Dumitru says
This is dope, Sophie! Awesome way to kick off 2014! And thank you so much for reminding us not to hold back. Happy New Year! 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Helper says
Sophie’s great at giving her readers a motivational kick in the butt, huh? I liked this one too. 🙂
Lynn Silva says
“Because it takes a special kind of courage to own yourself.”
This one sentence absolutely makes me ‘giddy!’ I love it!!!
You offer the most authentic help for freelancers, and during this contest, the prizes are amazing…(especially THIS one!!!!)
For 2014, yes, this is what I will do: Find the courage to ‘own myself!’
AWESOME!!!
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Helper says
Do it, Lynn! We’re rooting for you. 🙂
Nell Casey says
Wow, this is such an amazing post – and I love the contest opportunity.
I’m planning to make 2014 my year. My year to challenge my fears, to conquer my goals and to really soar. I’ve outlined my goals and *some* of the steps needed to make it happen, but I’m looking for a little shove off into the wind. Tweeted and fingers crossed 🙂
Lauren Tharp, BAFB Community Helper says
Go for it, Nell! And good luck. 🙂
Sophie Lizard says
And the winner is… tweeter #44, Nell Casey (@nell_casey on Twitter). Congratulations, Nell! I’m emailing you now about your prize.
For everyone else, Brave New Year costs only $97 here. 🙂
Nell Casey says
Thanks so much Sophie. I can’t wait to get started!