The start of a New Year comes with nothing more but excitement. Amazingly 2020 starts a decade where technology and innovation have ransacked the very existence of life. It’s a great time to reinvent yourself, commit to new habits, and harness the new year’s positive energy toward being who you really want to be.
But it’s common knowledge that most resolutions get tossed aside just a few weeks into January. Why? Because building habits requires work.
You need to plan, take action, and overcome the urge to do things the way you’ve always done them—because change can often feel uncomfortable. That’s normal, though, we just all need to get more comfortable with it. As they say, to perfect something is to practice for 21 days. Creating new routines will ultimately allow you to grow, which is not only great for you, it’ll benefit our society as a whole.
Below are some habits that will make you successful in 2020
Maximize your Potential.
Bring more of your intellectual superpower to your job and watch your results skyrocket.
Action Plan: First, you need to what you extremely good at. This is the thinking or problem-solving that you’re best at. Think of three moments recently when you were “in the zone” or exhilarated by the thinking you were doing. Write down, in detail, what was going on inside your head. Then, look for patterns in these three examples. What’s the common way of thinking or problem-solving you were doing? See if you can put a name to it. Second, assess your current job. How often are you using your Genius? If the answer is rarely or not as much as you’d like, figure out ways you can tweak your role or your current approach to include it more. Ask yourself: How can I leverage my Genius to best support my team and organization?
Create The Kind Of Influence That Boosts Your Motivation
Knowing and understanding your influence, the motivation you have on others or the world is the most powerful secret (key) you can harness on the job or at your place of work.
Action Plan: Understand what supercharge you. Your Purpose is linked to a core emotional challenge. Finding this within yourself requires you to think back on your life story and the various challenges you’ve faced. We all have a lot of them, but there’s inevitably one that’s a central theme. If you’re struggling to identify it, start observing the moments in which you’re completely fulfilled by the impact you’re having on another person. What’s that specific impact? Take notes on this, then label it.
Be More Joyful
Often, we mistake the feeling of accomplishment with joy. Yet, we’re baffled when moments after a big win go haywire, we feel unmotivated and even unhappy. This is because we often live for outcomes rather than enjoy the process.
Action Plan: Start observing how you feel while you’re doing your work, rather than when you finish it and accomplish your goals. This is a big mental shift to make because we’re a goal-oriented society. However, if you only get excited when you achieve something, you’re missing out on a fundamental human need: intrinsic motivation, the motivation, and energy that comes from within. For two weeks, pay close attention while you do your work. Regularly check in with yourself to see how you’re doing. Are you enjoying the process just as much or more than the end result? If the answer is no, then you’re not fully energized by your job. If you want to change this, start rethinking the work you’re doing and the way you do it. Life is far too short to only enjoy the wins—you need to figure out how to improve the time in between them.
Cultivate Mindfulness And Confidence
Confidence is important for performing at your best and being successful. But contrary to popular belief, it’s not something you’re born with. It’s a muscle, and just like starting to work out, if done regularly, it will grow stronger.
Action Plan: Pay attention to the moments that trigger you to feel less confident. See if you can identify the mental messages that contribute to your lack of confidence. (Note: this free Performance Tracker I created can help you track these moments.)
The first step is simply becoming aware of those messages. Then, you can change them to more positive messages, such as: “Who I am is valuable, and I can achieve anything I want just by appreciating my true self.” Create a mantra that you believe, one that really resonates with you. Say it to yourself as often as possible. Continue to note of times you feel less secure with yourself. Soon, you’ll be able to practice and own your confidence.
Build Grit And Curiosity
Failing is inevitable but not letting it consume you is a choice. If you want to be all that you can be in 2020, learn how to consistently employ grit and curiosity in the face of change and failure.
Action Plan: Are you curious or resistant? Force yourself to be inquisitive about everything that feels hard for the next few weeks. Notice how this feel. As you tackle failures or problems, never allow yourself to give up. Instead, view each one as an opportunity for growth. Keep track of your ability to switch your perspective for two months. Soon, this mindset shift will be like second nature to you.