Change in the New Year

Hard to believe it’s a new year! As time marches on, the one certainty we all face is change. Change in every possible aspect of our lives. Not necessarily everything will change in this new year, but we can be guaranteed something is going to change. We had a lot of change in 2023 in our family, but somehow, I have a feeling in 2024 there will be even more. 

The ability to recognize and adapt to change is a highly sought after leadership attribute in the military. I’ve been decent at change management in my professional life; at least I didn’t bristle at the thought of change or try in vain to fight it as some did.  Recognizing and adapting to change is probably even more important in our daily lives. Many folks begin a new year making resolutions about what they want to change about themselves.

I’ve blogged previously about my disdain for resolutions. This year, I think I finally figured out why. I believe we sometimes get discouraged about making changes in our own lives simply because we get overcome while reacting and adapting to the inevitable changes that happen quite naturally. Rather than resolve to make positive changes in our life, perhaps a better method is to consider how we’ll respond to the changes that will come upon us in the new year?

Let’s take finances for instance. Perhaps a personal resolution may be “get my finances in order” or something like that. However, it’s highly likely that 2024 is going to throw some change at us that could potentially up end a well-intentioned resolution. Election years are historically turbulent periods for the stock market. Additionally, political maneuvering prior to an election could impact interest rates, price of gas, inflation or several other things…both positively and negatively. Personally, I am resolving to look for financial opportunities in the likely 2024 economic turbulence while simultaneously safeguarding our hard-earned assets.

How about those health resolutions? They aren’t impacted by external change, are they? Well, I believe so. This year I can already identify several stressors that will inevitably impact my health. From the day job and our rental business, to our youngest applying for college this Fall, I can guarantee 2024 will deliver some changes that could potentially impact my eating, sleeping and general health habits. I resolve to be mindful of my body when the change and stressors start happening fast and furious.

Those are known, knowns as one might say. What about all the change that will occur in 2024 completely unexpectedly? The loss of a loved one, an unforeseen medical condition or perhaps a change in employment. Perhaps the serenity prayer is the best resolution for the unknowns, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Change is inevitable and can sometimes thwart the best laid resolutions. I’m certainly not suggesting to not set goals or resolutions for 2024. Quite the contrary, I believe the best resolution for 2024 is to acknowledge, anticipate and embrace the change that will assuredly arrive in the coming months. If we come out on the other side of 2024 healthier, wealthier and wiser, then it’s most likely due to our change management skills rather than any quickly forgotten resolution.

Interested in rental property investing? Look for “Collect Rent, Don’t Pay It: A Beginner’s Guide to Rental Property Investing” on Amazon to learn how our family turned rental property investing into a successful side hustle!

Looking for a good how-to on wealth building? Check out my book, Millionaire on a Worker’s Budget: Five Financial Truth’s to Build Wealth on sale now at Amazon!

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