In 2015, shift some focus away from what you need to do and focus on who you need to be! Who you “be” determines what you do and what you do determines what you have. Remember, the “do” is just the bridge between the be and the have! Success is not the result of spontaneous combustion! You must light yourself on fire! Here are 7 matches to create that flame in 2015 and beyond.
1) Believe in yourself “Believe in yourself, for it is only you who can determine whether or not you are the achiever of your dreams.” Kishore Bansal
This is probably the most important lesson I learned in 2014 because I found when I truly believed that I was capable of everything and anything, nothing will stop me. The first and only person you need to convince is yourself, so go out there and BELIEVE!
2) Let the small things be small things “What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, we call a butterfly.” Eckhart Tolle
What I have learned is that the challenges we face seem enormous in the now, but when we look back, these are mere specks of dust in our existence. The key to making 2015 your best year yet is to allow these specks of dust to remain small (even in the now), so our energy is no longer focused on areas that do not matter.
3) Flock with birds that build you up “Be careful the environment you choose, for it will shape you; be careful the friends you choose, for you will become like them.” W. Clement Stone
This an essential lesson to adopt (immediately) to make 2015 filled with success because this is what you deserve. The people with whom you associate will often become major influencers in your life even if you don’t want them to occupy this space. Therefore, please choose wisely! Find people who build you up, are passionate about life and are driven to grow. This will be enormously valuable in the coming year.
4) Invest the most time, money, and effort in yourself “Our personal power is found in the force of our thoughts. It is our real strength.” Robin Sieger
The only sustainable competitive advantage in life is personal development, period! I encourage you to allocate money and time to invest in yourself every month. This means your health, your headspace, your spirituality, your family, your relationships, etc. It does not need to cost much (if anything), but you should at least be reading a book that helps you grow, watching inspiring YouTube videos and addressing any areas where you yearn to improve.
5) Pursue daily passion “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” Oprah Winfrey
Most people go through the motions for their entire life. What could be worse than this? I get it; maybe you despise your career and it represents a means to an end, but it is critical that you create the space to pursue your passion for at least 15-30 minutes each day. Whether by reading, writing, cooking, dancing, running, meditating, sewing, etc. please, please, please incorporate this into your daily regimen.
6) Create the space for laughter “I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it’s the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It’s probably the most important thing in a person.” Audrey Hepburn
This has been such an instrumental lesson and something I have included as a new rhythm. Whether I am searching YouTube for funny videos, having hilarious conversations with my family, friends, and team, or simply reflecting on events from my past, I have now incorporated laughter on a daily basis. Trust me when I say, it has made all the difference!
7) Act with intention or don’t act at all “Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.” Mary Anne Radmacher
I often find that people perform a ton of actions in their lives, but often do so without a clearly defined intention. The perfect question you should ask yourself before taking action is, “What am I looking to achieve?” If the answer is undesirable or does not elicit the outcome you were striving to accomplish, then don’t take the action! This has saved me an enormous amount of time and energy in 2014 and I know it will benefit you as well.
To your wealth and wellness in 2015 and beyond!
Contributor: Dr. Gregg Baron
The statements made in this article have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. None of the information presented is intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.
