New Year Amnesia
If we break the year into quarters, then the game has begun. The real, remarkable athletes have the ability to put behind them the previous quarter or even previous moments that did not measure up to their expectations. So, as you enter into this new quarter, be able to look at the scoreboard and come into this with a type of amnesia where you put behind you what could not be accomplished.
This is a level of amnesia that does not ignore what needs to be adjusted; we review the tape and review what went right and what went wrong, and then adjust appropriately. Instead, this level of amnesia allows you to put behind the feeling or emotion tied to the lack of execution and look at what lies ahead with a fresh perspective, turning the Ls into lessons.
Recently, my wife said something that was really profound as she delivered the first sermon of the year: “What you consider to be a curse is actually the course God is using to develop you." The momentary amnesia that we're speaking about is going to require you to see even those missed shots as a blessing; for having missed a shot, you gained perspective for the next one.
As I walked into the office today, the security clerk and I made eye contact. I said, “Happy New Year,” and he said, "Happy New Year to me as well." I asked him how it went with his new year. He said, “Great,” then proceeded to say, “New year, new me.” I replied and said, “Let's get it, my guy!”
Some of this we can't control, like the changing of the calendar; it's going to happen regardless. The start of the new quarter is going to come regardless. However, it is your responsibility to be ready and have a level of amnesia. Analyze what took place that you could have done better—a shot that you missed or maybe didn't put all your effort in. If truly this is a new you, then truly you must put all your effort into it.
As you know, there are 24 hours in a day. Therefore, you have 24 chances to be able to make this count. You begin to stack 24 on top of each other, and before you know it, you will have scored more than what you have missed. But you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, so this quarter make sure you take every shot, and forgive yourself if you missed it last year! You've got to have the confidence that this is your year; this is the quarter where everything changes.
That's the attitude the great athletes have. They go into the next quarter thinking, "This is my quarter." They go into the next round thinking, "This is my round." So, this is the moment for you to muster up all your strengths and proceed forward. And please, beware of Quitter's Day, which comes around every January 17th.