Longing helps us choose more decisively between the courageous path or the path that leads to ordinary. There is something trustworthy residing within.

“Step 1: We admitted we were powerless – that our lives had become unmanageable.”

Lurking in the shadow of our lives, wearing the costume of our Ideal, is our self-critic with its judging, shaming, and blaming. The way ideals usually function in our lives can be haunting. Our Ideals can either function as a guide into the future or a Judge from the future.

You may have moved to a different house or city. You may have even immigrated from a different country. Perhaps you left home for college and returned after your first semester to find that your belongings have been placed elsewhere and your friends are not as available as they once were. You may have experienced personal change and family relationships you had may have changed for better or for worse. Maybe you experienced a tragedy and your ability to feel safe has forever changed.

The start of a new year provides a unique opportunity to reflect back on all that happened in 2020 and to think about what has worked well and what has not worked. A new beginning provides space for us to dream about future possibilities and begin forward progress one step at a time.