02nd February is National Groundhog Day.
Depending on your age, you may remember the 80’s film with Bill Murray when he gets stuck in the time warp, however 'Groundhog Day' actually derives from a Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, and sees a shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den and winter will persist for six more weeks, and if he does not, due to any cloudiness, the spring season will arrive early.
Essentially, we are relying on a rodent to determine how long we have to wait for spring.
I’m not sure a rodent, a shadow, and the arrival of spring is a good topic of conversation for a blog, so I am going to focus on the storyline of the film.
How would you feel repeating the same day over and over?
If you were to repeat the same day, would it take you closer to the person you want to be?
It can be so easy for time to pass and for us not to realise how long a negative situation has become our status quo.
Sometimes, sticking your head in the sand, and denial, is easier to deal with, in comparison to the alternative of making the changes that we need to make.
We go into survival mode, getting through each day, day, after day, after day.
We are creatures of habit. We like certainty. We like routine. We like familiarity.
The comfort zone is familiar, it is not necessarily comfortable.
Staying where we are, can feel more comfortable, however, we risk that we will begin to resent staying where we are. We begin to feel stuck and frustrated with the situation that we are in.
One of the most frequent frameworks to look at how we manage change is the 'Kubler Ross' change curve.
It can be easy to get stuck in the curve.
We benefit most from focusing on the future, on creating a 'new normal'
When we understand what we want our future to look like, and we have that compelling reason to make a change, then we can start to transition from where we are, to where we want to be.
To step out of our comfort zone and reach the zone of growth and learning, we need to pass through the 'fear zone' To be able to push through this, we need to know what we are focusing towards, we need to know where we are heading.
It needs to be meaningful, purposeful, deliberate, intentional.
Change does not need to be hard, or something to fear and hold back from.
Change can be exciting, challenging and rewarding.
Many of you reading this blog will have made decisions to make changes this year. The new year is a great opportunity to do that.
Groundhog Day falls at the beginning of February, just over 4 weeks or 31 days of the small changes towards the goal.
How are you progressing?
If you travel in the same direction, at the same speed as you have done for the last month, will you be 'on track', or 'off course'?
If the answer is 'off course' then now is an ideal time to correct it.
Time to wake up from your Groundhog day and time to take action.
Set your goal, check that it is meaningful, purposeful, intentional.
Break it down into smaller tasks and activities.
Work on it a little every day.
Focus on consistency.
A 'Groundhog' day may not feel so bad if it is aligned with your values, your purpose and the things that are important to you in life.
“That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over, and over, and over...”
- Phil Connors, Groundhog Day.
Not written your goals down? Order your Journal here
Want to find out more about how to do this - Check out the blog 'How to Eat the Elephant'
If you are struggling to achieve what you want on your own, then why not book a clarity call to discuss how Phoenix Coaching can help you.
People book a Personal coach to achieve their fitness goals so why not talk to a coach about your life goals?
photo cred mashable.com
First published Feb 2018
Updated Feb 2022