As the end of 2024 approaches, I am reminded of a famous story from history. In 1519, Hernán Cortés led a large expedition of 600 Spaniards, some 16 horses, and 11 boats to Mexico. Their goal was to obtain the magnificent treasure that is said to be hidden there.
Once there, Cortes made history by destroying the ship and sending a clear message to his men that there was no going back. They either win or perish. Within two years, he successfully conquered the Aztec Empire.
2024 has tested everyone in every way. I also encourage people who are facing health problems, relationship problems, and even financial problems due to inflation, rising interest rates, and an unstable global economy. I met you. No matter what adversity we all faced in 2024, most of us realized that some part of our lives wasn’t working, in fact, it was downright dysfunctional.
When I bring up the story of Hernan Cortés and how he burned the boat, I use this as a metaphor for our lives. What aspects of our lives no longer serve us and need to be “burned down” and left behind? We all have something we can point to.
It may seem scary at first to think about letting go of something that has been with you for so long, but if you realize this year that it’s no longer useful, why hold on to it? It may be out of fear of letting go or comforting a being that no longer serves you, but this is exactly why you must burn it down.
Not only do you let go of things that are dragging you down or holding you back, but you also create space for new thoughts, ideas, and inspiration to emerge that otherwise would never have surfaced. It also means creating. Take a hard, calm, hard look at your life, decide what no longer serves you, and burn it out in your heart, mind, and soul with thoughts, feelings, and prayers. .
This is a big step towards freeing your life from the shackles of the past, finding peace and boldly embracing the unknown. It is only outside your comfort zone that you can grow and evolve. That’s why you’re here in the first place, and that’s what most of us forgot a long time ago.
In fact, letting go of things that no longer serve you is more important than goal setting, which many people focus on during this time. The reason most people have a hard time making New Year’s resolutions is because they are still tied to the shackles of the past and haven’t broken free from them to make space for what they want now.
If we do not heed this call, we risk dying under the weight of our own self-neglect. With 2025 just around the corner, the choice is yours. Burn the ship and never look back.
