Connecting dots with The Idea Dude
December for me is a great time to take stock of what I managed to achieve during this year and then look at all the things that perhaps fell through the cracks or activities I could have managed better. New Year Resolutions for me aren’t radical changes but adjustments that I remind myself to make over time.
Resolving to succeed
Ben’s right about most of the resolutions we make each year. They never seem to last, fading as fast as the winter sun. Most resolutions are about ourselves and how we think we should be or could be better. I think we often look at ourselves and find the things we dislike the most. Then by uttering a few magic words wrapped in a bow called a New Year resolution, we hope they will go away. Of course they don’t.
Resolving to choose wisely
Choosing resolutions that have some hope of making a making difference to us must have all of the following ingredients.
It must matter to us. It can’t be something copied from someone because it sounded good and altruistic.
It must be measurable. Anything that isn’t measurable in a tangible or meaningful has no hope of succeeding like starting a journey without knowing where it will end.
We must enjoy doing it. Motivation is generally fueled by the emotion that something we do makes us feel so good, we want to keep doing it.
The changes we make should impact those around us. Because our momentum is increased by their feedback and their well-being.
Resolving to change positively
What is a resolution really but a commitment to change oneself and all around us in a positive way. Liz has the best advice about how to make positive changes stick. She’s right of course when she says, When you make a positive change that sticks, other positive things will happen too.
Resolving to be kinder to ourselves
Angela reminds us to be kinder to ourselves. What a wonderful idea. We do tend to beat ourselves up for not doing something or not doing enough of other things. At the end of the day, we are all human with frailties and failings. But we are also endowed with character that helps we look forward to just being a little better than the day before.
Being kinder to ourselves makes us kinder to others too!
This is my wish for all of us.
May the dots be with you!
Vern, The Idea Dude
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