Change is hard. Real hard. Mostly because we naturally don’t do it very easily. They say it takes 21 days to engrain a new habit, but research suggests it takes longer. Which must be why I give up on most things after 3 days ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.
What I love about January is that it can be the ultimate reset button. “Welp, last year was a real crap show, but this year will be different!” But, like most things, and because – well, change is hard – our “resolutions” peter out and we’re back where we started. That’s why I love the concept of monthly resolutions, the concept the Planner Perfect method surrounds itself around. Every month is a reset, a readjustment. It’s overwhelming to commit to a year. But a week, a month? That I can do.
January’s Word of the Month is renew. And I’m meditating on the word and letting it guide my professional life through a massive revolution. I’m the founder of a funny website for women called HaHas for HooHas. It’s been my baby and my joy for almost 5 years now. But, things are changing and evolving. Parenting humor has become oversaturated, and my audience is more engaged with images and videos and less inclined to read articles or posts. As my fans change in how they consume my content, I must change in how I engage them – but at the same time, I’m currently writing two books and moving towards my ultimate goal of being a published author. I’m pulling away from “blogger” and moving into “author.” For years I was working for HooHas, but it’s time for HooHas to start working for me.
Side note: Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become a servant to our talents when our talents should be serving us (and others of course)?
This daunting shift in my platform alone makes me want to go hide under the covers. But I know this must be done. It’s the next inevitable step. And I know if I don’t do it and things become stale and stagnant, I’ll become depressed – a common side effect to not evolving into who we’re supposed to be.
Change is hard. Not realizing my purpose is harder.
There’s a reason uncertainty is one of a human’s least favorite emotions. It requires trust and faith. In reality that looks a lot like jumping and “hoping” someone set up a net for you to land in (am I the only one who fears I’d land in the net and then bounce right out?). Also, what tends to happen is that if the path isn’t clearly paved, we stop. Just one small obstacle is enough for us to turn back around to the familiar.
But we can overcome our innate human tendencies to do the impossible and create miracles for our lives. People do it everyday – why not me? Why not you?
So, this month – renew. A renewed vision for my career. Boldly walking into the unknown is, sadly for us, usually the only path to destiny. We might as well start now. I know I am.
Anna Lind Thomas is a humor writer who founded the humor website for women, HaHas for HooHas. She’s also one half of the popular podcast The Anna and Susannah Show. Anna is happily married with two young daughters and a bulldog.
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