It’s hard to believe that 2022 is upon us! Now you’re probably familiar with the famous Matrix scene – red or blue pill? The red, representing a life-changing and potentially unsettling awareness of the truth. The blue, representing blissful and contented ignorance…staying tied to the status quo.
It’s hard to disagree that we all want to expand our potential, but the truth is, it always comes at a price! Are you up to the challenge of taking the more difficult, but potentially more awarding “red pill” route? If so, read on for Matrix: New You in 2022, Red Pill or Blue? 5 Keys to Fulfil Your Potential!
1. Set Reasonable Goals
A common mistake around making New Year’s Resolutions is that they’re simply unattainable.
Many of us would like to lose weight, eat healthier, and work towards a promotion at work – but spreading ourselves too thin will only result in mediocrity! Instead, set reasonable, attainable goals. But, how do you strike a balance between a goal that’s challenging, but still attainable? An easy method to remember is SMART.
Your goal should be:
- Specific (instead of “exercise more,” “join a running class”)
- Measurable (i.e. eat vegetarian twice a week)
- Attainable (make sure it’s within reach, i.e. saving 1 dollar a day rather than 1000 a month)
- Realistic (i.e. instead of giving up sugar cold turkey, allow yourself 1 sweet a week)
- Timely (setting a deadline for when you want to achieve your goal, i.e. by 2023)
My SMART 2022 goal? To run the 2022 NYC Marathon by training over the next 11 months with training runs at least 3 times a week!
2. Be Mindful of How You Feel
I’ve touched on the mind-body connection a lot in my past articles. Being mindful of how you feel is immensely important.
For example, you may not realize how stressed you are, or the cause of that stress; but your body is likely giving you signals or clues!
Stress often manifests in the body through tight shoulders, headaches, fatigue and tension in the neck and jaw. By being aware of how your body feels due to stress, you can also track back to where that tension arises and just what is causing that stress (it’s often a no-brainer if you ask your family and loved-ones).
When you are in tune with your body, you can fine-tune your physiological responses and work with them to bring more harmony, peace, and ultimately, the realization of potential into your life.
3. Stay Active
It may be the most popular New Year’s goal of all, and for good reason! There are loads of ways being active benefits your mind and body, it ultimately helps us boost our potential, too!
Exercise lessens anxiety and depression, helps you sleep better, helps combat cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and can even be associated with less risk of getting certain cancers.
Most of all, it helps you practice discipline and creates a positive feedback loop, reminding your brain why it’s good to show up for yourself! Increased discipline and self-control means increased success. So, try adding more exercise into your life to increase your potential!
4. Know Your Strengths
None of us are gifted in everything, but we all have our strengths. By knowing what we best bring to the table, we can achieve the utmost potential!
A mathematician isn’t the best doctor, a chef isn’t the best nurse, a runner isn’t the best swimmer, and so on. But, knowing your strengths can be the difference between a prosperous year and an ordinary one! When we utilize our strengths, we are taking the mindset of finding opportunity rather than being overwhelmed by problems.
Focusing on your weaknesses can make you feel less-than and insecure; but knowing your strengths does just the opposite! It gives you a major confidence boost and self-appreciation; qualities which are super-useful to fulfilling your own potential!
5. Learn to Say No
Sometimes saying “no” can lead us to more peace and believe it or not, higher potential! Are you a people pleaser? Me too! Saying no is super hard for people who hate to let people down, but it’s such an important practice to learn.
The truth is, sometimes we are drained and don’t want to go to the next social event, we don’t want to pick up OT when our staff is low and co-workers are bribing us, we don’t want to attend that extra seminar for continued education that’s not necessary, but looks good on the CV; and that’s OK!
Sometimes our greatest strength can be found in a “no”. One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2021 was to say “no” more often. And I really enjoyed it!
I learned that sometimes, we don’t always have to make up excuses, and politely declining invitations is totally OK! It’s our time, and in order to be our best self, we sometimes have to decline and forget about the irksome urban term FOMO (fear of missing out)!
Are you looking forward to a new year of reaching your higher potential? What are your New Year’s Resolutions for 2022? Do share them with us in the comments below, and join in the conversation on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!
