I don’t know about you, but 2023 was quite the year for me. I went through multiple kinds of losses. I feel like I’m going into 2024 with less than what I had going into 2023. For some context, I went into 2023 with a boyfriend, a full family, my childhood dog, good friends, and lots and lots of plans for my writing and college. But as each month went by, I felt like I was losing one thing after the other. I went through not one, but two breakups, lost my childhood dog, friends came and went, and the hardest-hitting one was dealing with a death in the family. It can feel like I’m entering 2024 single, hurt, and lonely, with much less than what I had before.
Maybe you went through a similar kind of year. Maybe your heart was shattered by a guy (or guys) you thought loved you, and it still hurts. Or the grief of losing a loved one is so heavy that you can’t even imagine going into a new year without them. Or maybe many stressful events happened throughout the year and you still feel pretty shaken. If you had a really rough year, you are not alone. I’m right there with you.
Acknowledge Your Feelings
So, how do you keep going? How do you leave a year that left you more shattered than you were going into it? A good first step to take is acknowledging how you are feeling. I’m hurt, and very tired. Don’t try to force yourself to feel happy and excited just because a new year is here. It’s okay if you don’t feel that adrenaline rush when the clock strikes midnight. Those emotions aren’t going to magically disappear on January 1st. I don’t say that to discourage you, but to tell you it’s normal to still hurt from the past year.
Alter Your Perspective
Another step I recommend is trying to alter your perspective. Remember the good in the bad. For example, a breakup can hurt like crazy. But in the midst of that pain, I can also remember the friends who were constantly there for me. One friend gave me constant support, and now she’s one of the closest people I have in my life. When I was dealing with the loss in my family, so many people came to my support, and I never felt so loved. Even though the entire year was a rollercoaster, good things still happened. Remembering the good in the midst of the bad is a good way to have some hope.
Look Forward
Finally, a good step is to look forward. Yes, the past year sucked, and some things are out of our control. But there are little things you can do to alter your perspective on the year as the days go by. One thing I do in my day-to-day is at the end of the day, I journal or tell myself five good things that happened. They do not have to be elaborate, it can be as simple as “I ate lunch,” or “The sun came out today.” This has helped alter my perspective on life; that even when things feel really bad, good things still happen.
Another way to look forward is to make small goals for myself. The thing about goals is they need to be attainable, or else they become overwhelming. They can be goals such as journaling for 5 minutes, doing one thing you love every day, or reading one chapter of a book.
Looking at the mountain that is 2024 can be intimidating, especially after having an already rough 2023. Just remember that it is normal if your emotions from the previous year don’t magically go away. But also remember that it will get better eventually. What happened to you does not define you, and all things do work out for good. I like to remember this Bible verse: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Remember, you’re going into the New Year supported and very loved.
I’ll hope for both of us that 2024 will be a great year full of joy, good memories, and light. Keep your chin up. You got this.