As we begin the new year, focusing on a past, present, and future framework allows us to start with a holistic mindset. We think back to 2022 and to what we have learned from our successes and our failures. In many ways this past year has shaped us and readied us for today, so we’ve begun the new year with more experience and preparedness. And we are poised for action and greater experimentation, often using our resolutions to spur us toward change.
I like this quote by JFK, who said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” What we find in the future is our purpose, motivation, and fulfillment. It is our expectation for new possibilities. Things that we thought were never attainable suddenly come into view. The new year rings in hopefulness and forward-thinking.
Our challenge is to use this multi-pronged approach and leverage our awareness of time – of looking back, seeing for today, and being insatiably curious about tomorrow. What is hard is to get the right balance of past, present, and future.
If our focus becomes one of yearning for the “good old days,” we can get stalled and stuck in regrets and negativity. Focusing too heavily on the present may mean we take a reactive stance or selfishly seek immediate gratification. Planning for the future and envisioning what is possible without grounding ourselves, in reality, may keep us from ultimately realizing our dreams for the future.
Asking ourselves questions helps us hold these 3 perspectives in balance and allows us to prepare for a future that we can never really predict or control.
- What did I learn from my mistakes this week?
- Where is my attention now?
- What is my future purpose that is bigger than myself?
It is with intentionality that we must spotlight each of these timeframes: Build upon our past experiences that shape us, create our future so that our potential becomes a reality, and enjoy the present to the fullest by making today count.
With this in mind, we offer you our best wishes for this new year, and may you always…
“Create Uncommon Results!”®
| About the Author
Clyde C. Lowstuter Clyde is a peak performance Executive Coach and CEO of R|L. He has been a visionary thought leader and pioneer in the field designing and leading corporate coaching and team building since 1981. He has been a visionary thought leader and pioneer in the field designing and leading executive career transition services, corporate coaching, and team building since 1981. From an early age, he was fascinated by why and how people think, feel, and behave differently from one another. He deduced that Authenticity, Accountability & Behavioral Agility are foundational to success. Insatiably curious and resourceful, Clyde enables executives to assess more of their capabilities and confidence. Read Full Bio |
