As one year winds to a close and a new one approaches, many of us see this as an opportunity to reflect on the past and to think about what we want from the year to come. Our wishes and goals often manifest in specific things, such as losing weight, finding a new job, or quitting a bad habit. This year, I invite you to try approaching this idea from a broader perspective. As I was deciding how I would manifest my own goals for the year, I read Chris Guillebeau’s post on this very topic, and I decided I couldn’t have said it better. Here are his wishes for (himself and for us) for the new year. He wants:
To wake in the morning full of life and energy, awaiting the day with anticipation and purpose.
To step out into the world ready to accomplish a significant task. To engage and initiate instead of merely responding. To take the active choice that you will make something happen.
To maintain harmony and goodwill in relationships. To follow Shakespeare’s adage: love all, trust a few, and do wrong to no one.
To focus on contribution and engagement instead of withdrawal into yourself. (Tip: When you aren’t sure what to do next, find a small way to help someone.)
To pursue productive, meaningful work. To spend most of your time doing something that you and others find meaningful.
To accept that everything you create will likely be flawed in some way, but to create anyway.*
Wise advice, I believe. How will you manifest as your best self in 2015? I would love to hear. You can write me atjoe@abundantbohemian.com. If I receive enough responses, I will post them here on a follow up blog.
*You can read his entire post at http://chrisguillebeau.com/2014-annual-review-looking-forward.
My book, The Abundant Bohemian: How To Live an Unconventional Life Without Starving In the Process is out now. You can find it at http://www.amazon.com/Abundant-Bohemian-Joseph-Downing/dp/1633370135/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419609806&sr=1-1&keywords=the+abundant+bohemian