The Fresh Start Effect

As we bring this book, and our journey together to a close, allow me to share with you a poem I read a few months ago.

It’s called, “If I had to live my life over.”

“If I had to live my life over…

I’d dare to make more mistakes next time.
I’d relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.

I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.

I would perhaps have more actual troubles but
I’d have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely
hour after hour,
day after day.

Oh, I’ve had my moments and if I had it to do over again,
I’d have more of them.
In fact, I’d try to have nothing else.
Just moments
one after another,
instead of living so many years ahead of each day.

I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer,
a hot water bottle, a raincoat and a parachute.
If I had to do it again,

I would travel lighter than I have.
If I had my life to live over,
I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall.

I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.”

By Nadine Stair (age 85)

This poem really got me thinking…how would I live my life over? How would YOU live your life over?

What would you do more of, and what would you do less of?

Would you care less about what other people think? Worry less about what might happen? Stress less about imaginary demons?

And, would you instead laugh more? Dance more? Follow your heart more?

And then, I felt a wave of gratitude rush over me, because I realize I don’t have to live my life over. I have, I hope, many precious years left, and so do you (*touch wood*).

A better question to ask then is: How would you like to spend the precious years that you have left?

You don’t need to be that 85-year old wishing you had done things differently.
Psychology tells us you can leverage the ‘fresh start effect’ – a psychological phenomenon where individuals are more likely to pursue goals or make significant changes in their behavior after temporal landmarks that represent new beginnings, such as the start of a new week, month, year, or even significant personal events like birthdays or holidays.

Reaching the end of this book could be that temporal landmark for you – use this day to renew your commitment to live your life more aligned with what’s most important to you. And make a FRESH START!

Remember, you are just one conscious choice away from a completely different life.

My question to you – If were to make a fresh start today, what conscious choice would you make differently?

Warmly,
Bhavna Toor
Chief Mindfulness Officer
Shenomics