Trust Yourself in January

It’s easy to get caught up in January’s push to start fresh and change the way you live your life. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I actually like taking time to look at how my life is going and ask myself if I’m happy with the way things feel.

That kind of reflection doesn’t have to happen in January, but it’s an easy time to do it.

When January Expectations Take Over

What can make January tricky is getting caught up in other people’s expectations. There are a lot of “shoulds” this time of year. People should lose weight, get “healthy,” make more money, be more productive. If that’s what you want to focus on, that’s fine. There are many people out there who can help you in ways that matter to you.

And if that’s not what’s important to you right now, it’s also fine to maintain course.

Choosing Your Own Path

Over the years, there have been several times when I made choices that others thought weren’t the way things should be done. One example that comes to mind is the second assignment I took in the Air Force.

I was young, single, and volunteered for an assignment in Italy. My supervisor at the time (someone I respected greatly and who was an outstanding leader) told me I shouldn’t volunteer for that assignment because it wouldn’t be good for my career.

At that point in my life, I wasn’t necessarily thinking about a 20-plus-year career. I volunteered anyway.

It turned out to be a great assignment in a great location. Was it the best position for my career on paper? In the end, it’s all relative. There are many paths to reach our goals. Taking that assignment didn’t prevent me from becoming a Colonel in the Air National Guard.

Why Self-Trust Matters

The point isn’t that my supervisor was wrong. The point is that I knew what my priorities were at that time, and I chose based on those priorities instead of following someone else’s path.

It worked out.  Maybe not in the way my supervisor thought was best, but in a way that was right for me.

That experience reinforced something I’ve seen often: it’s important to trust yourself. You are the person who knows you best. You are also the one who lives with your decisions more than anyone else.

Getting Clear on What’s Right for You

So how do you know what’s right for you?

You start by taking stock of your life. That usually means asking yourself a few honest questions:

• What are my values?
• What are my priorities right now?
• What is my vision for the life I want over the next year?
• Am I currently living in a way that respects my values and priorities?

Once you answer those questions, you have a roadmap to guide your decision-making. That applies to both big decisions and small ones.

Using Your Personal Roadmap

Maybe you’re thinking about a career change. Or maybe you just want a calmer home or a cleaner house. Both require change, and both are easier when you’re clear about what matters to you.

Using that roadmap gives you confidence. Even when decisions aren’t easy, you can trust that what you’re doing is aligned.

Making Small, Intentional Adjustments

From there, you can look at what supports the life you want, and what might not anymore.

Do you need to set some goals? For example, if you want to take a trip in the fall, maybe saving money becomes a priority. Are there things you’re currently doing that don’t respect your values? If you want to read more but find yourself spending most of your free time on social media, maybe that’s something to adjust.

Once you decide what matters, you can make small, realistic plans that support it.

Trusting Yourself Over Time

Coming back to these questions once in a while can help you stay aligned, especially when it’s easy for life to simply take over.

Trust yourself to know what you want and how you want to live your life.

After all, it’s your life.