Starting over...

Spring is a wonderful time to allow ourselves to “start anew” and still a bit of spring remains. Blossoms, tender green leaves , and sweet fragrance, signal the renewal of life and can uplift even the dullest mind and most barren soil.?

"Spring has come, and the earth is like a child that knows poems."

Mary Oliver beautifully captures the sense of renewal and joy that comes with the arrival of spring… earth as a child filled with the wonder and excitement of discovering something new, as the beauty of nature blooms into life after the dormancy of winter.

Every June, I let myself start the year over. I have a ritual of revisioning my life, my business, my goals, hopes and dreams and I let any burdens I happen to be carrying from the first part of the year just fall away. Buying a new planner and journal are part of this tradition and I love the sensation of holding it in my hands, the blank pages offering a similar promise to the one this season of possibility brings.?

In business as in every area of life, we can find ourselves starting over again and again. We are forever seeking to serve our guests, clients and customers in unique and more valuable ways. We’re constantly reaching, growing and changing in an effort to realize more of who and what we can be. We witness the sun rising every morning providing the template for beginning fresh, we observe many examples of this in nature and yet we can find ourselves resisting this very natural and necessary experience.

This sensation of starting over is really just the natural expansion of growth, but because expansion requires that we let go of past systems, paradigms, behavior and habits of thought, it can feel like we have to start all over and begin again. This is often when we choose to walk away from businesses and from the commitment to habits we know can change everything for us.?

If we are to allow new and better outcomes in our business and in our lives, we have to be willing to go through the painful part of learning new things, changing our mindset and shifting our attention to navigating territories that lie outside of our comfort zone and yet the idea of starting over can be a scary thought for many of us. Whether it's in our personal lives, business ventures, or health journeys, the idea of beginning again can be overwhelming. But the truth is, allowing ourselves to start over is crucial to achieving our goals and creating the life we truly want.

One of the biggest obstacles to starting over is the fear of failure. We often hold onto our past mistakes and allow them to define us, rather than using them as opportunities to learn and grow. But failure is not the end of the road; it's simply a detour on the path to success. As Steve Jobs said,

"I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance... Unless you have a lot of passion about this, you're not going to survive. You're going to give it up. So, you've got to have an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right that you're passionate about; otherwise, you're not going to have the perseverance to stick it through. I think that's half the battle right there."

Starting over allows us to reset and refocus on our goals. It gives us the opportunity to reassess what's truly important to us and make any necessary changes to align our actions with our values. It's important to be present during this process, to acknowledge our past mistakes, but not dwell on them. Instead, we should focus on the present moment and take small steps towards our desired outcome.

Another important aspect of allowing ourselves to renew our efforts to begin again is learning the lesson. Every failure and mistake is an opportunity to learn something new about ourselves and the world around us. It's important to take the time to reflect on our past experiences and identify what we can do differently moving forward. This self-reflection allows us to gain clarity and understanding about ourselves and our actions.

Once we have gained this clarity, we can begin to envision what we want to create and where we want to go. It's important to have a clear picture of our desired outcome in mind, as this will help us stay motivated and focused on our goals. However, it's also important to remain flexible and open to change, as our goals may evolve over time.

In Tony Robbin’s words, "It's not about perfect. It's about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that's where transformation happens. That's how change occurs." Allowing ourselves to start over is not about achieving perfection, but about putting in the effort and taking small steps towards our goals every day.

Beginning again and again is an essential part of personal growth and success. It allows us to reset, refocus, and realign our actions with our values. By being present, learning the lesson, and gaining clarity about our desired outcome, we can create the life we truly want.?

"You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it." Maya Angelou

As the spring season brings a sense of renewal and growth, I hope you can take the time to reevaluate your business with fresh eyes and identify areas for improvement. Embracing the energy of the season, we can use it as a chance to pivot, reset, and move forward with renewed clarity and purpose.?

After all, the "birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it", so, give yourself permission to start fresh, learn from your past mistakes, and move forward with renewed energy and enthusiasm towards your goals. Spring is a wonderful time to allow ourselves to “start anew” and then delight in what June may bring into our lives.