Screw having just one “resolution”, here are 15 ways you can better your life this year.
___
Trust Your Instinct
Somewhere in the back of our head there’s that little voice that just won’t seem to go away. We often do things and make decisions only to regret it later knowing that we went against that initial gut feeling. Sometimes we can be wrong but whatever your spirit is telling you at first can often be true. Learn to trust it.
New Day, New Me
We always experience ‘new year, new me’ syndrome. Let’s put a twist to it and say ‘new day, new me’. Yes, a new year is a great starting point to make significant changes but rarely do we need to wait for such a prominent occasion. Every single day is an opportunity to begin again. A new season, a new month, a new day, a new hour. Change can take place in the moments we decide and the moments we least expect.
Mentor Someone
Insecure leaders are terrified of the very word ‘mentor’ and would have it expelled from the dictionary at the very first opportunity. After their demise they would rather chaos ensue, fire rain from the sky and a grueling fight to the death for the organization. Select and train people to replace you long before it is your time to go. Leadership is not a marathon that we intended to run forever but a relay where we pass on the baton to the next runner.
You’re Passionate or You’re Not
Martin Williams reminds us to stop doing things we aren’t passionate about. “Passion isn’t something you just talk about; Either it shows up or it doesn’t”, he said. The other good thing about passion is that it is often connected to our purpose. That one thing we live to do is probably what we were born to do (well, minus the bad habits).
Get Involved and Give Back
It should be impossible to live in a community without giving back to it. Find ways to contribute and help grow the society you live in. Do a beach cleanup, start a group with a positive cause, join a movement, help a stranger or a friend in need. Individuals exist for the community and the community exists for individuals. Don’t just take, learn to give in kind.
Grow Where You Are Planted
One of the easiest things in the world is to resent the place where we are right now without realizing that that particular place is preparing us for something else of greater value. We let circumstances trick us into not giving it our best shot when the truth is we should always give it our best no matter what. Our work and effort will always reflect us and someone somewhere is watching.
Let People Be
I know, trust me. It can be annoying and we get tired of hearing resolutions every single year but some people do make a valiant effort at an attempt to bring about some changes in their life. So let people make their resolutions and just wait until the end to see if they stick em out. If they don’t, well, they’ve only let themselves down.
Guard Your Circle and Drop Dead Weight
When we look at people in our life they are either assets or deficits. A plus sign or a negative. They add something to us or constantly take away. You get the picture. Get rid of people and things that add nothing of value to you. Some good friends are only good for a good time and nothing else. Look for people that are achieving and are where you want to be in life and learn everything you can from them to get to where you want to be too.
The Good and the Bad
No matter how good or bad a relationship is, its true strength and true character is best revealed during times of crisis and adversity. When things aren’t going so well what we really are cant hide and exposes its ugly head. If we can get pass that and live with it then we know we have a rock solid relationship that will stand the tests and trials of time. If not, then there may be some work to do.
Clock is Ticking
Ideas have a shelf life so if something comes to you take it and run. Ever had this fantastic idea that you thought only you were capable of dreaming up and had plans to one day fulfill it only to see it being fulfilled by someone else months later? Ideas have a shelf life and if you thought about it and don’t act on it rest assured that someone else will eventually dream it up or something similar. The time to act is always now. Never be afraid to go for it.
Learn to say no
For some of us the word no is a curse word. We hate to say it and we hate to hear it. We don’t want to disappoint or hurt anyone’s feelings, even at our own expense. Learning to say no will keep you out of many places where you never wanted to be.
Be Committed
Everyone wants the best that life has to offer but few are willing to commit to the elements necessary to achieve it. We do things halfheartedly and then complain when we don’t see results. We start strong and then we flake out and go missing halfway through. We become whatever we are committed to in life. The results we experience will be based on the time we put into everything we ever hoped to be or achieve.
Temporary and Permanent
We like to do things that give us temporary pleasure and permanent pain but instead we should be chasing after things that give us temporary pain in exchange for permanent pleasure. Living life in the fast lane with only the short term in mind gets us into big trouble in the long run. The things you do with your time right now, the way you spend your nights or weekends is it producing something to benefit you in the long run? What will you have to show in the end for what you’ve been so busy doing with your life?
Dance In The Rain
We have a love hate relationship with storms. On the days where we choose to hate them sometimes the only way to get through them is to wait it out or run through it. If you’re really up to it you may decide to slip on your boots and even dance in it. Either way always remember that with whatever you’re going through – it too shall pass.
God’s Will
Man plans and God laughs. There are many things we will simply never be able to figure out. Some answers only God will have. ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make straight your paths.’ – Pro 3:5-6 Always keep him first.
By Deniro Anderson
___
Get the Best of The Good Men Project sent straight to your inbox. Sign up for our Newsletter here.
Photo: Getty Images