It’s 2022!

How does that make you feel?

No.

Really.

How does it make you feel?

As Daniel Pink explains in his 2018 book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, humans use landmarks to navigate time. Scientists call them "temporal landmarks,” and they represent the end of one period and beginning of the next.

Pink writes, “The first day of the year offers a chance to start again. It disconnects us from our past self’s mistakes and imperfections, and leaves us confident about our new, superior selves.”

That’s why a new year makes some feel hopeful, inspired, ambitious. Long-held plans and goals can seem more attainable at the start of a new year. If that’s the case, you go, Superior Self.

Climb that mountain. 

Build your empire. 

Chisel those abs.

We’ll be there to high five you on the other side of ‘22.

But your newfound motivation--fierce and white hot on 1/1-- might be naked and shivering beside a few dwindling embers in the months that follow. By March, it’s not so hard to snag a spot in that exercise class, and the “snooze” button on the alarm is getting a lot more action.

Hasta la vista, Superior Self, and “Hello, Newman.*" I mean, Imperfect Self.

Don’t despair. There’s reason to hold onto hope, and here’s why.

There are two types of temporal landmarks:

1. Social landmarks--like 1/1--are shared in the broader culture.
2. Personal landmarks are significant to us individually. Think birthdays and anniversaries.

*Seinfeld reference 

Personal landmarks are an invaluable gift because, if we miss a social landmark, they offer a chance for a do-over. (Something your siblings probably denied you when you played Candy Land.)

Just because it’s New Year's Day doesn’t mean you’re ready to make changes. We humans tend to do things when WE feel ready and not before. (As someone who stayed in an unfulfilling career for 15 years before mustering the courage to leave, I know this all too well.)

Instead of feeling badly that you’re not ready, give some thought to what you’d need to be ready. It’s like buying sugar and flour to keep in the pantry. You’re not baking a cake now, but you’ll have the ingredients when you need them.

If you want some help thinking through what you need in your metaphorical pantry, schedule a complimentary, one-hour coaching session with me here.

Embrace your Imperfect Self. 

Every tomorrow is a chance for a do-over. 

Unless you're in a heated game of Candy Land with the family.

Find more ways to become your Superior Self here.