I’ve never been good at New Year’s resolutions.
Not because I lack discipline or ambition, but because resolutions often start from a place of needing to fix something that you might consider is not going well.
My approach has always been about more productivity and better habits and more learning.
Over time, I have come to learn that real leadership, in my personal and professional life comes building on strengths and recognizing those that are already inside us.
So, this year as in previous years, I will try to do more of what I genuinely love.
I want to build around the energy that I have and my curiosity.
That said, this is challenging as my energy levels can vary yet my curiosity is always there.
So, given this constraint, I ask myself, what matters to me most?
And for this, I have a process.
On a weekly basis, I conduct a form of debrief.
What worked well, what did not work well. How were my energy levels in those instances.
The interesting thing is that even when things don’t work well, it does not mean I did not apply effort and energy, the result was just not a good one.
It does not mean I won’t try again, in fact, I have come to learn that if something is important enough, I need to try again even if things don’t work well the first time.
My energy is linked to my passion.
And, when I am working on something I am passionate about, I am not cognizant of time.
This is a pattern I have noticed for myself.
When I am not passionate about something I am working on, I look at the clock.
I also look for themes.
Teaching, sharing, creating, learning, these are my passions as well.
My themes reveal purpose more than any grand resolution statement could.
I don’t try to overhaul my life at the start of a New Year.
I look for new small habits to add to my routine.
For example, one year, I added reading to my commute to work every morning.
This simple new habit enabled me to finish most books I started in one week.
That said, what I also try and do is delete so to speak.
There are things we all need to stop doing.
For example, at one instance, I decided I will stop buying home décor items. I had way more than I really needed.
This year, I’m not resolving to be better, I’m choosing to be more passionate.
This means, doing more of what I love and less of what is not needed.
I don't need resolutions this New Year.