Glee greetings!

Happy new year to you! I hope you had a wonderful time celebrating the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. I am so grateful for your support and readership throughout the past year.

As we enter a new year, I want to share some wise counsel with you. I know you may have many plans and goals for this year. You may want to start something new, such as joining a group or learning a new skill. You may feel excited and motivated to make a change in your life.

But I urge you to resist this temptation. Why? Because ideas can be very funny. They can make you feel like you have to act on them right away, or else you will miss out on something. They can make you forget about the things you already have and are working on.

There is a phenomenon called the “new year effect.” It is when you feel a surge of energy and enthusiasm at the start of a new year. You think that this is the perfect time to do something different and amazing. But this effect does not last long. By February, your emotions will become calmer. You will realise that starting something new is not as easy or fun as you thought. You will face challenges and obstacles. You will lose interest and motivation. You will regret wasting your time and resources.

So what should you do instead? Continue to build on what you were doing in December. Focus on the things that matter to you: the things that you are passionate about; the things that you have invested in; the things that bring you joy and fulfilment; and the things that make you who you are.

These are the things that will help you grow and improve, make you happy and successful, and make this year a great one for you.

So don’t be fooled by the new year effect. Don’t let it distract you from your true purpose by chasing after shiny objects. Don’t let it make you abandon your existing projects and commitments.

Instead, be wise and prudent with what you started last year. Be consistent and persistent in doing it. And ultimately, be yourself.

That is my advice for you this year. I hope you will take it to heart and apply it to your life. By so doing, you will have a wonderful and prosperous year ahead.

Thank you for reading this newsletter. I appreciate your feedback and comments. Please feel free to share this with your friends and family. And please stay in touch. I love hearing from you.

Until next time, stay sane and consistent.

With ❤️

Jaachị Anyatọnwụ