Leaving Your Excess Baggage Behind
SUMMARY
Are you energised and ready to tackle the new year or are you still holding on to the things that didn’t go well in 2024 and it’s weighing you down?
Unfortunately, a lot of people carry things into the new year that they don’t need to. And whilst they have great intentions of doing things differently and getting a different result, those things become roadblocks and hold them back.
Well, stick with me because I want to start our conversation this year by helping you see things in a different way and go through a process that’s going to help you leave that all behind to lighten your load so you can move forward.
Hi, this is Grant Herbert, Leadership and Sustainable Performance Coach, and today I want to help you start your year by leaving your excess baggage behind.
2024 was a great year. There were lots of things that went well, but there were also things that didn’t go well, and I know that wasn’t just for me—it was for you as well.
2025 is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and move forward towards the results you want to get. Now, I’ve got to tell you, I don’t go with the whole New Year’s resolution thing because what that means is once a year, I’m going to make a concerted effort to change and all the bad things. But what I do know is that psychologically, having that shift between one year and the next is a good opportunity to plan and do things differently. Most of us take some sort of a break to finish off the year and go into the new year, so that’s why it is a good time to go through this process.
So, I want to take you through a proven three-step process, one that I use every year so that you can leave behind the things of 2024 that will hold you back from going to where you want to go in 2025. The first part of the process is to reflect.
The second part of the process is to refocus.
The third part of the process, then, is to relaunch.
Well, that’s it for our first conversation for 2025. I’m going to continue to work with you this year to help you, now that you’ve gone through this process, become who you need to be so you can do what you need to do to achieve the results you want. I look forward to being on this journey with you. Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you can come along, and I look forward to working with you in 2025. I’ll see you then.
TRANSCRIPT
Are you energised and ready to tackle the new year or are you still holding on to the things that didn’t go well in 2024 and it’s weighing you down?
Unfortunately, a lot of people carry things into the new year that they don’t need to. And whilst they have great intentions of doing things differently and getting a different result, those things become roadblocks and hold them back.
Well, stick with me because I want to start our conversation this year by helping you see things in a different way, and go through a process that’s going to help you leave that all behind, to lighten your load so you can move forward.
Hi, this is Grant Herbert, Leadership and Sustainable Performance Coach, and today I want to help you start your year by leaving your excess baggage behind.
2024 was a great year. There were lots of things that went well, but there were also things that didn’t go well, and I know that wasn’t just for me—it was for you as well.
2025 is an opportunity to wipe the slate clean and move forward towards the results you want to get. Now, I’ve got to tell you, I don’t go with the whole New Year’s resolution thing because what that means is once a year, I’m going to make a concerted effort to change and all the bad things. But what I do know is that psychologically, having that shift between one year and the next is a good opportunity to plan and do things differently. Most of us take some sort of a break to finish off the year and go into the new year, so that’s why it is a good time to go through this process.
Now, we’re in January, and we’re already towards the end of January, as you’re seeing this. But here’s the thing—most people don’t tend to get started until mid-February because they’re still coming back from their holidays, both physically and mentally. They are also not prepared mentally and emotionally to kick things off, so procrastination can hold them back.
So, I want to take you through a proven three-step process, one that I use every year, so that you can leave behind the things of 2024 that will hold you back from going to where you want to go in 2025.
I know in my own life that using this exact formula allows me to have a clear mind and perspective about what’s possible and who I need to become in the new year.
The first part of the process is to reflect
Start by reflecting on the year that’s just passed, looking at what actually happened and why. However, when most people reflect on the year that’s gone, they look at everything that went wrong and allow that to tell them whether or not they’re capable of doing things differently in this new year. It’s further evidence of your identity challenges—that you’re not good enough, you don’t belong, that people don’t like you, or whatever it is. When done in a negative way, it can actually be an anchor that holds you back.
The reflection that you need to do is what I call forward-focused reflection.
Keep your eyes on where you are going. Imagine driving along in a car and you’ve got this nice big piece of glass in front of you called a windscreen—or a windshield, depending on where you come from. Then you’ve got this other little one up on the windscreen called the rear-view mirror. Their size and proportions are on purpose. It’s just like what we need to do here today as we are moving forward in this new year. You need to keep focused on where you are going through that large pane of glass and, every now and then, you need to pop up and have a look at where you’ve been and see what’s behind you.
With forward-focused reflection, you look at what went on in the past in a certain way. You go there to learn, not to camp there, have a pity party, and feel bad about yourself, gathering negative information that’s going to hold you back. Look at what went well in the year—what were your wins, and what did they teach you? What are the things you fought for and did differently that allowed you to have those wins, and how can you bring them forward into the new year?
Also, look at what didn’t go well and why. Consider how you could do things differently to avoid those outcomes in the coming year. So that’s the first part of the process: reflect.
The second part of the process is to refocus
Take a look at what’s important to you. Make sure that in the new year, you’ve planned for your priorities and refocused on the things you wanted to achieve in 2024 but didn’t. Ensure your mindset and planning are centred around what’s truly important, and carry that forward into the new year.
The third part of the process, then, is to relaunch
Now that you’ve left that baggage behind where it belongs, brought forward the lessons that you need, and refocused on where you are going and why, it’s time to hit the start button. You can put together a plan for moving forward because you’re now in the right mindset to produce the behaviour that allows you to set yourself up to be where you want to be at the end of the year.
2025 can be your best year yet. In fact, you can get more done in the next six weeks than most people get done in a whole year. Going through this process and preparing yourself—leaving that baggage behind and releasing yourself—is like pulling up the anchor and allowing yourself to move forward freely, unhindered and no longer held back.
Well, that’s it for our first conversation for 2025. I’m going to continue to work with you this year to help you, now that you’ve gone through this process, become who you need to be so you can do what you need to do to achieve the results you want. I look forward to being on this journey with you. Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you can come along, and I look forward to working with you in 2025. I’ll see you then.
