Turning the last page of 2020 with a positive mindset

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Last night, I watched the Netflix TV documentary Death to 2020 with my sister. The show was a funny mockumentary of this year’s events. As I watched the show, I thought of the countless number of hours I spent this year at home; feeling uncertain about the future, homeschooling my kids, being concerned about my kids social and emotional health, breaking down at the thought of not being able to physically see many people I love to work with, running past small businesses that shut down, and worrying about the polarization that surrounded me. As 2020 comes to a close tonight, it’s time to reflect on this year’s accomplishments and lessons learned from experiences we had. This year has undoubtedly been different from all the years. From the wildfires in Australia to the pandemic, this year was filled with surprises and continuous calamities. This year is surely unlike any other time in history that we have witnessed. It might be enticing to focus on the negatives of this year, but digging a little deeper, some good came out of 2020 too. It’s essential to focus on the positive and see the areas we thrived in this year. We should not treat this year as just a bad phase. Reflecting on this year’s challenges can be a guide for facing similar situations in the future.

Instead of just thinking that the end of this year will change our fortunes and the fault in our stars, we can end this year on a positive note. To accomplish that, we have to change our mindsets. How can we shift our mindset so we start the new year on the right foot? I have four tips for you to bring even a year like this to an end in a healthy and genuinely positive way.

Embrace the Reality

To cultivate a positive attitude, it is important, to be honest about the situation. There is no need to paint a rainbow when it was a rainy day. Instead, embrace the reality that the year was challenging. List the challenges you faced. Accept the actions you took. It’s not easy to accept yourself and your actions; the good, the bad, and the just plain human but, acknowledgment is a key for having a positive mindset. Accepting the world you live in is the next important step. Are you happy with your career, house, partner, and family life? Either accept them or make an effort to change the things around you.

Learn from your Failures

Failures are part of our journey. It’s impossible to find a success story that doesn’t build up on past mistakes. We all experience failure at some point in our life. Overcoming hurdles starts with learning from our mistakes. Write down the steps you took to overcome your challenges. Own your mistakes and don’t blame them on others and the situation. Even in the worst of circumstances, the kind we faced this year, there is a better way to tackle life. Learn and grow from your mistakes.

Celebrate the Wins

Don’t get jammed on just negatives. We need to celebrate our wins too. Make a success journal for this year and list all of the things you achieved and all the joyous moments you experienced. A lot of organizations and individuals excelled and thrived this year. So, jot down your success no matter how small. I pivoted my mobile personal training business into a virtual business. I have been pretty happy with the results. It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate small wins for motivation to keep going. This motivation gives us the strength to endure to climb to the top of the mountain.

Create a Roadmap for Success

Look towards the future with optimism. The New Year is for a fresh start. Take some time this week to create a set of goals. Then create a plan on how you will achieve those goals and set a timeline. Map out your financial, personal, and career path. The plan can include connecting with a therapist or coach to help you with difficult emotions. It can involve giving back to the community in a meaningful way. It can also include choosing a healthy lifestyle, including better eating, fitness, and sleep hygiene. If you need a wellness coach, I am available to help. You can contact me via tone and strengthen’s website.

So, the good news is that we survived 2020, and we even came out more robust and more resilient after bearing the series of unfortunate events. Sure we fell off course this year more than a few times but it’s always the darkest hour before dawn. Positive and negative are the two sides of the coins of thinking, doing, and being. Embracing the reality and discovering the wisdom and joy of allowing life to be exactly what it is, celebrating your victories no matter how small, and planning for the future will help you succeed in the new year. Let’s turn this last page of 2020 with authentic positivity. It’s time to embrace the positive and welcome 2021 with open arms.

Aesha Tahir is a health and wellness coach and a certified personal trainer. She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Exercise Science and is certified by the NASM as a Personal trainer. She is a certified USA Track and Field Running Coach. She is a 200 HR Registered Yoga Teacher. She is also a group exercise instructor specializing in barre, spinning, strength training, boot camp, and yoga classes. She has over five years of experience in the fitness and wellness arena with focused expertise in coaching, corrective exercise and injury prevention, individualized fitness programs, and group fitness programs. She is also an aspiring public speaker in the fitness and wellness world who believes in this quote; “To be inspired is great, but to inspire is incredible.”