When winding down 2018 and looking ahead to the new year, it is important to take some time and reflect on where you are in life and how you got there. For some, 2018 may have been a year marked by struggle, while others may have seen a year of growth and breakthrough. Regardless of how your year went, you should stop and ask yourself why it went the way it did. How did you handle the obstacles that came your way, and how are you striving to be better in the coming year?

The “New Year, New Me” Scam

Every year around the last week of December, you will likely see posts on social media hyping up the idea of “New Year, New Me.” People cling to the idea that 2019 will be better than their 2018, and their 2018 was supposed to be better than their 2017, and their 2017 was supposed to be better than their 2016. It’s as if the “magic” of a new year and the promise of a clean slate will bring with it changes to their lives, but what happens when all of that fails and 2019 is simply more of the same? Stephen Covey, author of 7 Habits for Highly Effective People, once wrote, “if I want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.”

2019 is not going to bring you breakthrough, success, or joy on its own. The only thing you can truly control in the new year is you.

The Avalanche Principle

When an avalanche is forming on the mountain top it begins with one fracture in the snow. As the fracture grows, more snow begins to break free and roll downward. Over time and with enough momentum, the avalanche becomes an unstoppable force – but it would have been nothing without the little breaks and growth.

You will not become the person you want to be tomorrow without intentional action today. It takes time for an avalanche to occur, and it takes time for you to see breakthrough. You have to work towards it and strive for it every single day. You cannot allow yourself to grow stagnate personally and professionally. Instead you must push to be a better version of yourself every day. 2019 will not be the year you want it to be unless you make it so. It takes effort; it’s a grind, but you’re the only person that is going to set your year up for success. Start your avalanche today and see what happens.