Olumurewa Damilola

It is another year again, and you might be expecting a ‘new’ you since it is a new year, as if the you of yesterday wasn’t the same you that  woke up from one day to another day, which happens to be a new year. Inarguably,  this happens to be the trend these days as some people think we can just change or change some habits overnight just by crossing over to another year without actually working on those old habits, their mindset or some bad behaviours they are used to doing. The bottom line is to make use of this new year, try putting away all negativity and focus on the positives. In the spirit of ‘newness’, endeavour to be ‘new’ and change some old habits like thinking in pessimism, and the key is to be international and deliberate about it.

You might be wondering how you are just supposed to embrace positivity, how you are just to eliminate all negative thoughts that sometimes lurk in your mind like fear of failing and the fear of not doing well in life. Frankly, the first thing is to change your mindset. In case you do not know what the mindset is, it is a fixed state of mind or it can be referred to as a mental attitude or inclination. Simply put, it is how you think. In this way, the way we think, therefore, affects most of our actions, and that is why it is essential to change the mindset first before other things come into place. Have you heard the way a man thinks, so he does? This is definitely true. If you believe that your academic life will be different this year, then it will be; if you believe that you are going to achieve tons of amazing things this year, then you will; it’s all about the mindset, a positive mindset, to be precise.

However, it would be hilarious to think that having a positive mindset will change everything without having a proper plan in place or the will to put in the work and effort needed. It is always good to have a plan that will help us achieve the goals we set out to achieve. Sometimes, it could be tasking or daunting to put in the work, and sometimes, there could be distractions here and there. For example, the second semester is almost over and exams are knocking at the door, but parties and social events like picnics and hangouts are also beckoning. In actuality, if you do not have a proper plan to combat these distractions or you are not deliberate about actualising that dream of coming out at the top of your class then it will be very easy to fall or just lose guard and fail along the way.

And not to scare you, but there might be some hiccups along the way; in fact, you can be your own enemy by refusing to do anything. It is okay to feel lazy and nonchalant sometimes; after all, we are all humans, and we are not perfect, but what marks the difference between a successful person and a failure is the ability to move past a setback and rise above all obstacles. It is all just part of the process, the secret is trusting every process and every step. Each day comes with its own little problem and each day comes with its own lessons. Do not stop learning; do not stop believing in each step because each and every process could help you build your own Rome.

Finally, it is okay to feel overwhelmed and confused sometimes one might feel like giving up because there is a way the likes of tests, assignments, projects, tight lecture schedules get to one that you forget that you are even living but there is always a way to get pass these challenges and this is by having a coping mechanism. Find out what works best for you, it could be as simple as allowing yourself a little rest, it could be by eating spicy food, it could be anything. The meat and potatoes of everything are to build that positive mindset, take commendable actions, trust the process and at the end, everything might just fall into place.