Mastery: Why Wait For New Year's?

Issue No. 49 | December 4th, 2023 | Read Time: 2 Minutes

New year, new me.

How many times have you heard that?

And I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm not guilty of saying it myself. I used to be a big believer of the classic New Year's resolutions.

But as I've gotten older, I've finally realized New Year's is just another excuse to procrastinate.

Take my own story for example. New Year's 2020 was about a month away and I really wanted to start the habit of meditating. 

But I remember telling myself,

"Why start now when New Year's is only about 30 days away? I might as well wait."

Because you know. . . new year new me. 

And guess what happened? 

I started meditating on January 1st and only lasted about a month.

Because news flash. Starting a habit, a hobby, or skill on New Year's day won't give you the motivation you're looking for.

It only gives you a reason to put off becoming your best self.

Marcus Aurelius says, "Everything you're trying to reach - by taking the long way round - you could have right now, this moment. If you'd only stop thwarting your own attempts."

Waiting to do something until New Year's is another way of taking the long way around. 

Instead of making a resolution to work out every day, make your way to the gym now and get a head start on becoming your best self.

There's no point in waiting until tomorrow. There's no point in waiting until the beginning of the week. And there's no point in waiting until New Year's.

At this very moment you can change your life. All it takes is the conscious decision to do so.

You know what separates the successful from the average?

The average person has one New Year every year.

The successful person views every day as their New Year's.

Because every day your goal should be to become better than you were yesterday. 

So stop taking the long way around and live by a new motto. . .

New day, new you.

Until next time,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

I'm still reading the riveting biography of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris. I'll probably be reading it up until the third week of December. 

• If you'd like to see my book notes pertaining to this book or any others I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• "If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it." — Jonathan Winters