Once You’ve Given Out All Your Presents, Here Are Five Things You Can Gift Yourself

By Jack Kelly

Forgive and forget all your former bad decisions, choices and indiscretions. Allow yourself the gift of leaving your past behind you. Don’t let them eat away at you, preventing you from moving on with your life and career. Start the new year with a fresh clean slate. Also, forgive all old grievances and grudges. Make peace with everyone. The weight of anger and hate wears you down. 

These things are important to your personal and professional life. If you are carrying around personal baggage, interviewers will pick up on it. Colleagues and managers will notice your angry tone and feelings of resentment and hostility.

You may think that you’re hiding it, but people do notice. These traits are not desirable in a job seeker or employee. Managers prefer people who are positive, upbeat, enthusiastic and motivated. You will only hold yourself back in your career if you don’t make these changes.

Try to be positive in the new year. Put aside all negative thoughts. Have a new attitude. It will be hard, but you must work at it. You’ll soon see people treating you better. They’ll be nicer, which in turn will reinforce your positive outlook. It is not only good for you mentally and emotionally, but you will be better at interviewing and more valued by your current employer.

Unleash your inner power. You know deep down what you want to do, so go for it. We all want certain things in our career, but are afraid to go after it. Fear of taking risks and worries about failure prohibit you from action.

Give yourself one year to take a chance in finding your dream job. Pivot to a new career if that’s your goal. Ask for an internal transfer at your company into a role that you really want. It will be scary, but give yourself the gift of having courage.

Work hard—so hard that your future self will thank you. If you waste your time, lack direction and procrastinate, nothing will change. You will continually go through the monotonous cycle of waking up, working, eating, watching TV, going to sleep day after day, year after year. However, if you make the conscious decision to put in the time, dedication, focus and effort now, your future self in 10 or 20 years will later have the present of a better life.

Take time to enjoy the moment. After you’re done working for the day, take a walk and breath in the cool, crisp air and watch your breath dissipate into the dark night sky. Remember to ask everyone in your house about their day. Give a hug to your spouse, partner, children, dogs and cats. Listen to them talk about their lives. Appreciate this precious time and be in the moment.

Feel how lucky you are and how quickly time goes. How many holiday seasons do you have left? If I’m lucky, I have maybe about 30 or so. Don’t forget to enjoy the here and now before it’s too late.