The coming of a new year is a time of hope and optimism for most people; it is a time when the old ways of the last year can be shaken off and new pathways to new ideas and new ways of living can be formed with a little bit of hope and well applied elbow grease.

Like many people, I went into the now-worn new year of 2016 year filled with optimism that it would be different than the year that had to come prior, which was a mish-mash of bad circumstances.

However, as New Year is the time to establish change and allow it to come into your life, I can’t help but look at the coming year of 2017 and believe it will be better than the last.

Every year for five years I’ve written about this subject matter in this space and I don’t see in past New Year’s columns is that we tread the same old ground, with the message that if you had a bit of willpower and made some good decisions you can affect your life for the better, not just for the coming year ahead but for many years to come.

Great advice, but something was missing.

The missing bit of ‘formula’ was the way the obstacles we had the year prior can actually become the inspiration for changes in the coming year ahead. Every time we fell down and we found ourselves bruised and tired, we also learn the lessons that let us get back up and walk on a true path stronger than the one we were on before we fell.

Personally for me, it’s a matter of many internal things from decisions about self-care to the way my lifestyle has changed. Too often I believed my own bad press and it threw me off my correct path and into the bramble on the side of the road.

This is the time when real change occurs, when you have to stand tall alone. The times when you have nothing to do but face what is the worst thing inside of you and tell it to be quiet, sit down, and shut up. I love you and all but we’re going for a little ride.

You may even have to strap your internal demons into the passenger seat and lock the car doors. Most likely this negative voice is not going to want to go for this ride with you. He is content and comfortable with the way that things are right now and doesn’t want them to change. So out of fear and misguided protection that negative voice comes out and tells you what you cannot do rather than what you can do or could do…

I think it is ironic that the year starts out cold and then suddenly grows warmer for most people around the world. It’s kind of a sign that the beginning of any Journey starts out rough and cold, the kind of place that you wouldn’t expect to find treasures buried in the ice of your soul.

Embrace that voice, tell it you love it, tell it that it is OK to fear and have doubts, but if you can finally work together rather than apart the days will warm as the light of the sun draws closer to us and the dark will retreat into the past.

Happy New Year!