by Zanele Njapha
We've all been there. January 1st rolls around, bursting with possibility. Our vision boards are plastered with dream vacations, career milestones, and that elusive "get-fit" goal. But by mid-year, that initial enthusiasm often fizzles. Life gets busy, unforeseen hurdles arise, and those resolutions start to feel like a distant memory.
But what if there was another way? What if, instead of focusing solely on the new year's hype, we embraced a mid-year reflection?
Here's the thing: progress isn't linear. There's a lot of unlearning that happens on the path to growth. Maybe you realize that hustle culture isn't serving you, or that a specific exercise routine just doesn't click. These "unlearnings" are crucial – acknowledging them allows us to course-correct and make space for better habits.
Forget the guilt often associated with broken New Year's resolutions. Embrace the power of unlearning now.
First, take stock of your habits and patterns. Have you fallen back into some old routines? That's okay! Identify what isn't working for you anymore. But don't just focus on the negatives. Celebrate the positive changes you've made, no matter how small they may seem.
Next, ask yourself a powerful question: What have I unlearned? What limiting beliefs or negative habits have you shed in the past six months? Recognizing these "unlearnings" is a huge victory. These are moments of growth that have allowed you to move forward in a more positive direction.
Finally, reassess your goals. Are they still relevant to your current situation? Maybe some need adjusting, refining, or even letting go entirely. Don't be afraid to adapt your aspirations to fit your evolving life.
The key now is to focus on embedding these new lessons. How can you integrate what you've "unlearned" into your daily life for lasting change? By solidifying these positive shifts, you can set yourself up for a truly fulfilling second half of the year.
The beauty of this mid-year reflection? You have a whole six months left to solidify positive changes. You can create systems to support your new habits, seek out resources, and celebrate your progress along the way.
Don't wait until December 31st to reflect. This halfway point is a powerful opportunity to acknowledge your journey, celebrate your unlearnings, and set yourself up for success in the second half of the year. Remember, growth is a constant process, and sometimes the most valuable lessons come from what we choose to leave behind. So go forth, embrace "unlearning," and make the rest of your year truly yours.
Known to her clients as 'The UnLearning Lady', Zanele Njapha is the world's leading voice on using key unlearning principles to support the world’s best organisations to build cultures where, instead of being annoyed and frustrated by change, people are EXCITED to transform and innovate! Zanele is the CEO of The UnLearners, and an award-winning businesswoman. She is a Forbes Contributor on navigating organisational change and a Certified Neuro Coach for transformative leaders/businesses. Zanele is Chair of The UnLearning Children Foundation, a TEDx speaker, a faculty member at Duke Corporate Education, and Host of The UnLearners Podcast.