Reflections & Resolutions
By the Empowered & Poised Team
The Empowered & Poised team members were asked to answer the following prompt: Tell us what you learned in 2020 and how you will continue to use what you learned in the new year. In addition, tell us what your new goals/resolutions are for the new year. Read on to see what everyone had to say!
Leah
2020 has taught me the importance of finding silver linings. While there was a lot of disappointment this year, I found joy in the following: Writing my first book, “Conscious Empowerment,” not having to drive to school, babysitting and taking calls in my sweatpants.
I’ll continue to appreciate the little things in life this year: A good meal, time with my loved ones, and the ability to learn and grow as an individual. It's easy to get caught up in what you don't have, which is why I’ll continue to focus on all I DO have: My health, a loving support system, and a roof over my head. Unfortunately, not everyone can say the same, so it's extremely important to not only be grateful, but also to give back. If you can't give of your treasures (money), you can give of your talents or your time. I plan to find new ways to share my passion for helping others in 2021.
This year, my goal is to stay open to any and all possibilities in 2021. I will be graduating with my master's degree this upcoming spring and am not sure what life has in store for me next. Therefore, it's important to trust the process and find the silver lining in whatever might be next for me!
Michaela
2020 has been a hard year for many reasons. Our lives were turned upside down and we were forced to constantly adjust every part of our "normal" lifestyle. Amidst this pandemic, I graduated college, started a new job, and dealt with immense heartbreak. But as I spent more and more time at home, I realized how much my own mental, social and physical well-being mattered.
I learned to treasure my loved ones even more than I did at the start of the year. I learned to treasure the simple joys of life and made sure to "stop and smell the roses." But most of all, I learned to be patient. If I have learned anything from living through what seems like the endless nine months of COVID-19, it’s that family is everything. Cherish the time you have with your loved ones and make sure you remind them how much you love them any chance you get.
I have plenty of goals for the new year focusing on all aspects of my life; mentally, socially, physically, financially, etc. But one thing I really want to focus on this year is to learning to take care of myself. Whether that be taking an hour each day to do something that I enjoy, or budgeting my time so that I have a healthy balance between work and home.
Dana
This year, I learned how to overcome setbacks. After graduating in the middle of a pandemic, I found myself feeling lost, discouraged and frustrated. I became a freelance writer for six months and worked a part-time job on the side, still fully determined to make my career goals a reality. Luckily, I landed my full-time position earlier this month and I couldn’t be happier.
Never lose sight of your goals and what you truly hope to accomplish!
I’m heading into 2021 knowing I’ll overcome any challenge that comes my way. There’s always light at the end of the tunnel, and while 2020 made it especially hard to see, I always acknowledge that it’s there. COVID-19 has been a major issue/setback for countless people this year, but it can’t hold us back forever. A reminder to anyone struggling - life isn’t so much about the adversity we face, but how we overcome it.
I’m making more of an effort to say “no” in 2021. I, like many other people my age, tend to spread myself too thin by taking on too many projects. I hate the idea of letting someone down or potentially upsetting them, and often overextend myself as a result. While I enjoy helping others and strive to be a positive presence in people’s lives, I have to make sure I’m happy and content, too.
Audrey
This past year, I learned more about myself than ever before. I was forced to acknowledge both my strengths and my weaknesses since I was essentially forced to be by myself for months. In 2020, I learned to be more comfortable in my own skin and that it's okay to be alone sometimes. Before, I was never comfortable to sit in silence with myself, or go eat by myself, but now I am!
I used to avoid self reflection by surrounding myself with others at all times. 2020, though overall a very unpleasant year, gave me a lot of positive takeaways. I now enjoy spending alone time, and I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything for doing so. I’m continuing to be more comfortable with who I am by taking time for myself - even when COVID-19 and its restrictions end.
Besides continuing to grow within and allowing myself to be alone, my new year's resolution is to go on more walks. I think being inside and in front of a screen all day does not allow me to perform at my best. Taking a break from my room and phone for even just a few minutes a day I think will be beneficial. A little walk will help me get a change of scenery, fresh air, a little exercise and energy to keep me going through my work day!
Naveen
In 2020, I learned to never take things for granted. Prior to COVID-19, I never truly appreciated stability and having a normal routine. Since March, school has been online, I lost my job and my parents lost their jobs. I never truly appreciated what I had until I lost it, and I’m sure many other people can relate, especially during these difficult times.
Although the future seemed bleak, I continued to work hard in school, took time to learn new things and also to reflect, which made me even more thankful for everything I have.
I’m heading into 2021 feeling grateful.. I’ve learned to have positive self-talks when times are difficult, and that truly motivates me to work harder toward a brighter future. COVID-19 has drastically impacted and altered the lives of so many people worldwide in a bad way. I think it’s important to turn some of those negatives into positives. For example, when I lost my job and summer internship position when COVID-19 first broke out, I turned my passion for skincare into a business. It’s not easy, but I advise anyone who is struggling currently to never lose hope. Stay positive and continue to learn!
This year, my goal is to be more confident in myself and to never sell myself short. There were many times in 2020 or even prior to 2020 when I doubted myself and my abilities. This attitude held me back many times, and I’m now focused on changing my own narrative. I’m making it a priority to build my confidence through positive self-talks, continuing to learn and building upon my skills.
Carmen
In 2020, COVID-19 made me realize how much I took small things for granted. I haven't been able to see family members who live further away, and I can't hang out with my friends as much as I usually do. I’ve started reaching out to people more over text or FaceTime, so I reconnected with old friends and keep in touch with them regularly. I’ll continue to do this in 2021 so I maintain relationships that are important to me!
In 2020, COVID-19 made me realize how much I took small things for granted. I haven't been able to see family members who live further away, and I can't hang out with my friends as much as I usually do. I’ve started reaching out to people more over text or FaceTime, so I reconnected with old friends and keep in touch with them regularly. I’ll continue to do this in 2021 so I maintain relationships that are important to me!
This year, I’ll continue to look at the silver lining of my situation, and take advantage of spending time with my family and friends. My resolution for next year is to enjoy the little things and to go out of my comfort zone more often!
Brooke
This year was filled with online classes, Zoom family gatherings, remote graduations and working from home. Although there were many difficulties that we had to face as a society, we were able to take a step back and learn more about ourselves. In 2020, I learned the importance of keeping in contact with people who are important to me.
Even though I was physically away from some of my friends and family, I became even closer to them. Without the support system that I was able to create, this year would have been even more difficult than it already was. I learned just how important it was to open up to others and keep in touch with those who are important in my life. In 2021, I’ll continue to make connections with others and share my voice and experiences with others.
2020 has taught me that life is uncertain. There were times when traditions were replaced and I wished things could go back to the way they were. However, dealing with COVID-19 forced me to learn new things. My new year's resolution is to do something new each week. Trying new things allows me to learn more about myself and the world around me.
Morgan
For me, 2020 was a year of growth, lessons and blessings. I spent more time with myself this year than I have ever before, which allowed me to realize a few important aspects of life. The most important lesson I learned is that time is of the essence - once time has passed, you cannot get it back. It’s important to be productive with your time, and don’t let it go to waste.
You can’t "make up" for lost time, as it will continue to pass regardless. One thing I tried to do this year was dedicate to myself and my happiness. I can choose to wake up in the morning and have a foul attitude toward my day because I have work, assignments or undesirable circumstances. Why be pessimistic about these things when I can change them? Correspondingly, I can choose to start my new diet after the New Year, however, those days or weeks leading up to the New Year would become lost time and missed advantages. If I started my diet right away, I’ll be days or weeks ahead of my previous start date, putting me at a greater advantage in the New Year.
In 2021, I’m going to implement a policy for myself regarding "zero days." A zero day is when you don't make any progress toward your goals, dreams or ambitions. I’m choosing to have no zero days in 2021. Even if it’s 11:58 p.m., I will at least do one push up, write one sentence, read one page of a book, eat one apple or contribute something to one of my goals, making my day a "non-zero day." Time is extremely important, and only you can choose how you spend it. I’ll continue to remind myself to always be kind to others, always choose to be happy and to make the most of every second I’m blessed with.
