Resolutions 2023

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better person. ~Benjamin Franklin

As the calendar flips to 2023, I find myself reflecting on the past year and thinking about how to make the most of the next 12 months. Something about watching the ball drop in Times Square and hearing Auld Lang Syne that creates optimism and a sense of possibility for the year ahead. Some things I'm thinking about:

When it comes to change, stopping bad habits and behaviors is more important than starting good ones. Eliminating the bad both improves well-being and creates room for the good - a real double-whammy. Jim Collins says that most people have a to-do list, but very few have a "stop-doing list". There is a lot more bang for the buck in the second one.

Small changes might feel insignificant, but they are the building blocks of habits and behavior. It is the small actions that mesh together to form systems, and the systems that sustain us on our journey toward self-improvement. In Atomic Habits, James Clear says we don't rise to the level of our goals, we fall to the level of our systems. Small changes are how those systems are built.

Momentum matters. Getting that first win every day, no matter how small, provides a feeling of accomplishment. This releases serotonin in the brain which elevates our mood and sets us up for the next win. Admiral William McRaven recommends starting with a task as simple as making your bed to start that chain. Small wins pave the way for more, and many small wins are a big deal.

My 2023 Resolution

My resolution for 2023 is to say "yes" more often instead of overthinking things. Yes to new opportunities. Yes to reconnecting with old friends. Yes to possibility.

Jump Start

What is one thing you can stop doing today that will make your life better?

Wishing everyone a blessed, happy, productive 2023.