July starts a new year for me because it's my birthday month. It's hard to imagine that we're already midway through the year. So if you're feeling a little down about all that's happened or never happened, consider these six things to cheer about in July. They will help you get through the rest of the year and remind you of all the reasons to stay grateful for what you have.
So let's dive into it.
You made it six months into the year.
If you feel the year has been flying off the handle, it's because it has. We're already halfway through 2023, meaning you've made it six months into the year. You've managed to keep going and push through, no matter how tough. So pat yourself on the back & celebrate the fact that you're still going strong. I like how famous author J.K. Rowling once said, "You shouldn't be ashamed of a scar. It only means you were stronger than whatever tried to hurt you." In other words, your scars are a testament to your strength and resilience, so wear them with pride. Take a moment and think about what would have happened if you had given up. Things could have been worse. But you made it through. So relax and take a deep breath, knowing you can handle whatever comes your way.
Self-awareness
One of the most powerful things to cheer about in July is self-awareness. Understanding your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors is crucial to success of your personal or professional life. When you know your strengths & weaknesses, you can set realistic goals and create a plan to achieve them. You're also more likely to catch yourself when you're off track and make the necessary adjustments.
Conversely, when you're unaware of your thoughts and feelings, you're more likely to make decisions that aren't in your best interest or fall into bad habits. But thankfully, you are aware of yourself. So use this to your advantage & set yourself up for a successful year's second half.
The tenacity to move through challenges
If you've been working hard towards a goal, whether it's professional or personal, chances are you're feeling discouraged. It can be disheartening to stay motivated when you wait to see the results you want. But here you are, still moving forward even though it's been an uphill climb. That's certainly something of which you should be proud. Just remember, progress is not always a perfectly straight line, and there will be frequent setbacks and challenges along the way. All that matters is to keep your eye on the big picture and have the tenacity to push through. The Japanese proverb, "Fall seven times & get up eight," puts it candidly. Meaning that even if you fall, it's not the end of the world. What matters is that you are getting back up and trying again.
Your inner growth to see progress
In the past five months, you might have made changes in your life that were outside of your comfort zone. Whatever these changes are they require you to grow and adapt to see progress. Hopefully, you managed to do so with grace and courage, and that's something to be celebrated. It can be easy to stay stuck in our comfort zones, but it's important to challenge ourselves and step outside of them from time to time. Otherwise, we risk stagnation. So if you've made some progress in your personal growth, continue celebrating yourself. One quote resonates with this: "A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there." Not sure who said it first, but it's true! Embrace the discomfort of new challenges and watch yourself grow in the process.
The willingness to finish
You may have started the year with grandiose plans and lofty goals. But somewhere along the way, you lost sight of them. Maybe you got sidetracked, or life got in the way. But somehow, you've found your way back and are ready to finish what you started. That's fantastic! It takes a lot of courage & willingness to admit that we need to refocus and get back on track. But it's worth it when we finally see those plans through to completion. There's one short story that resonates with this narrative. It's called "The Tortoise and the Hare." In it, a race is held between a tortoise (representing persistence) and a hare (representing speed). The hare gets off with a great start and is way ahead of the tortoise for most of the race. But eventually, the hare gets lazy and takes a nap. He even starts to mock the tortoise for being so slow. "There's no way that tortoise will ever catch up to me," he says.
Meanwhile, the tortoise keeps plugging away until he crosses the finish line first. But, of course, the tortoise could only have won if it was confident in finishing. So give yourself a thumbs up if you're still working hard towards your goals, even if it's taken longer than you expected.
A positive outlook toward the future
The previous year's events have been rough for many people. There's been a lot of uncertainty and anxiety about the future. But despite that, you've managed to keep a positive outlook. That's amazing! It can be easy to get caught hooked on all the negative news. But by staying positive, you're not only helping yourself, but you're also helping to spread some much-needed optimism. Good things happen more often with a positive outlook. That's because you're attracting positive energy into your life. So keep up the excellent work. The world needs more people like you.
So there you have it. Six things to cheer about in July. Progress, self-awareness, personal growth, tenacity to move through challenges, the willingness to finish, and a positive outlook toward the future. What are you waiting for? Go out there and celebrate your successes. You deserve it. Keep this in your heart as you progress through the year, Philippians 1:6 " Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." King James Version KJV
Reference;
Sanvello. (2022). Quotes. Retrieved from; sanvello.com/community/quotes/post/7219788
Meet the Author
Sheika Petteway, Chief ENCOURAGING Officer
She provides educational and leadership training to individuals and organizations. She is the founder and CEO of Elite Educational Enterprises and has several years experience serving in the early childhood education industry.
Text the word "mentor" to 855-691-1749 to receive encouraging messages monthly.