In my previous post, I reviewed how knowing ourselves can help us reach our New Year’s resolutions. Knowing yourself will allow you to decide who you want to become. Firstly, prepare yourself by being open. Being open confused me in the past. Beyond something the Birkenstock crowd always wanted, what did it mean? To be open, one must first be still and observe. Stillness is seeing the answers right in front of you. When we are busy with a hectic schedule, we operate with tunnel vision. Slow down to notice details and consider alternatives, so we may expand our horizons and try new perspectives. All of this is to gain new opportunities and have as many options as possible to choose from.
Secondly, it helps to be aware of your life purpose and values because they will guide you on your life journey. Review these values every five to ten years to ensure they continue to meet your needs. Whether we realize it or not, much of our decision-making is driven by our values and purpose. I’ve observed in my life that I was happy when I lived aligned with my values and stressed when I was not.
Thirdly, assessments like MBTI, StrengthFinders, or Positive Intelligence (plus many others) can set a starting point that informs you which traits serve you and which traits don’t. These help to reveal why you do what you do. They also reveal how you differ from others, where your natural strengths are, or what hidden blocks and hurdles are preventing you from reaching your full potential. When I realized last year that I could use my love of checklists to motivate me to file my taxes, my aversion to taxes disappeared.
Next, experiment. Observe patterns in your reactions and how others respond to you. What are the obstacles or roadblocks that you face? Consider what characteristics and skills you will need for your updated identity, and then try them on. Two TV characters that exemplify traits that don’t serve them: Monica on “Friends” is a perfectionist who has a vacuum for her vacuum and Dr. Sheldon Cooper, from “The Big Bang Theory”, is so hyper-rational that he creates bathroom schedules for his roommate. These characterizations are sources of humor on a comedy show but they can create sticky situations in relationships.
It is essential to remain agile, flexible, and adaptable to the changing world to survive. Become familiar with the process of developing a mental and emotional system that enables you to think rationally and with empathic integrity. You will not only meet your New Year’s resolutions but also be ready for whatever changes and challenges come your way.
Copyright © 2023 Devashri Gupta. All rights reserved.
