Blog Post

Bye bye 2020, welcome 2021!

Michelle Guelfand • December 29, 2020

2020 in retrospect. New decisions for 2021

This year has definitely been a challenging one to many of us, including myself.

As the year comes to an end, it is time to reflect back, obtain new learnings, and make new decisions for the upcoming year.

Here are some of my learnings from 2020:

1. You can't always get what you want

This, I think, is one of the major learnings from COVID-19 pandemic.

Most suffering results from the meaning we assign to the gap between what we wanted and what actually happens. And the thought that we can't control everything may be scary to some of us. It sure was, (and still is to some extent) to me.

The sooner we learn to accept reality as it is, let go of the need to control everything, and trust ourselves and the universe, the faster we bounce back.

And as the Rolling Stones put it: You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you find you get what you need”. (Check out this April 18 “At Home”, 2020 Version)

2. Be compassionate to yourself and others

Uncertainty and fear activate our stress mechanism of Fight, Flight or Freeze response. When an acute stress response is extended over a prolong period, just as in video games, where one loses ‘health points’, in real life, our energy is depleted, we experience anything from emotional stress to serious physical symptoms, and our overall wellbeing is compromised.

The demanding modern world's pace was running on high speed, and as we're forced to lock down, we are forced to lower the pace. So, allow yourself to slow down. Even if it means to take a conscious 5-minute break to breath.

Be compassionate to yourself for not achieving all your dreams and plans in 2020.

Remember, in nature there are cycles. Nothing is constant. This too shall pass.

3. Build your resilience. Adapt to changes

So things didn't work out the way you planned it. Resilience is how fast we overcome and adapt to changes. Instead of mourning our inability to do what we wanted, ask yourself: "What's next"? "What can I do differently now"?

So in my case, instead of going to the gym 4 times a week, I started walking in nature, and realized I actually enjoy it!

And instead of meeting clients in person locally, I started guiding and mentoring my clients exclusively online. This has opened the possibility of helping people on a national and global level. An option that was always there before but was not realized as much before.

4. Acknowledge what you did do this year

Even if you feel that you barely did anything during 2020, find that something that you did do. Anything is an accomplishment, even getting out of bed!

As I look back, I see that even though I feel I was doing things on a slower pace, I realize I:

1. Kept on exercising - walking in nature and exercising online

2. Experienced veganism. Experimented with new ingredients, recipes, and cooking.

3. Started learning piano via 'Simply Piano' app. Very cool!

4. Invested in Learning and personal development

Enriched myself with online courses including, completing a Yale University course about ‘The science of well-being’; Conversational hypnosis, Evolution of Psychotherapy, and more, gaining more therapeutic tools for myself and my clients.

5. Learn a language - went back to learning French in an online app.

6. Started my blog! This is my 14th blog post for the year.

7. Wrote, recorded and published a guided meditation in 2 languages

8. Presented in various online settings through collaborations.

9. Helped my online clients achieve extraordinary results. (I should dedicate a separate blog for that).

10. Connected to family and friends over the phone, overcoming physical and social distancing.

11. Bonded more with my nuclear family as we all live under the same roof 24/7 now.

12. And probably more that I don't remember or haven't realized yet!

Some of the things on this list may not have happened had we not experienced a world pandemic like COVID-19, and for that I am grateful. Focus on the good.

5. And here is my list for 2021:

1. Take a decision to keep optimistic.

2. Be open for opportunities.

3. Allow myself to explore.

4. Set my intent for my desired outcome.

5. Set goals I can start acting upon today.

6. Keep going!

So how is 2021 going to look like for you?

I am looking forward to hearing how your year was in retrospect, and how you're going to make it different in 2021.

Let's all welcome the year of 2021 with love, hope and flexibility.

Much Love & Gratitude,
Michelle Guelfand

MBA, NLP Trainer & Master Practitioner
Holistic, Results-Oriented Coaching
www.myDesiredOutcome.com

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