How to Kickstart a Fantastic New Year

Let’s be honest, this is a writing challenge – a self-imposed test to push the boundaries of content creation. Think of it as the designer’s version of Constraints. My challenge is Sesame-Street inspired: this post is brought to you by the letter ‘O’. After two days of brainstorming, here’s the outcome.

Many people have faced heart-breaking tragedies, disasters, and losses recently. Unless you’ve been completely disconnected, there were probably moments when all you wanted to do was stay in bed and shut the world out.

The reality is that life must go on. It’s time to gear up and prepare for new beginnings. Let’s reset our outlook and get ready for a fresh start.

If your motivation is at an all-time low, perhaps due to past missteps, or if you’re unsure about your direction for the future, this post is specifically for you.

Stay Optimistic – Stay Objective

I’ve always believed in finding the silver lining in every difficult situation. It’s natural to hold onto hope and maintain optimism, even though our frequent encounters with reality might sometimes make us forget this.

We should remind ourselves that there is always a silver lining: lessons to be learned from failures, strategies to prevent future errors, and more. If constant sadness isn’t helping, perhaps a dash of optimism will.

If optimism alone doesn’t cut it, then it’s time to be objective. Stop being so hard on yourself. Set clear goals and focus on achieving them, instead of dwelling on past difficulties. Remember, life’s ups and downs are temporary, and change is just around the corner.

Stay Opinionated – Stay Outspoken

Having opinions is healthy. However, it seems we are increasingly adopting the views shared, retweeted, and forwarded by others, spending less time forming our own thoughts.

Opinions are now often influenced by external factors such as propaganda, politics, sponsorship, or profit motives. We can be pressured into expressing views we don’t genuinely hold, and then quickly sharing these online – sometimes with little reflection.

We’ve neglected the hard work required to truly own an opinion, which is ironic given the long battles for freedom of speech. It’s crucial to think for yourself, voice your thoughts independently, and exercise logic and caution when sharing views, particularly on social media. Remember, it’s okay for opinions to evolve over time, just as scientific understandings do.

Embrace Originality – Embrace Authenticity

While discussing opinions, let’s delve into originality. If anyone suggests you simply “be yourself,” perhaps a better aim is to be original. There’s a significant difference.

In those supermodel reality shows, the advice to “be yourself” is common. However, I propose “be original” as a more fitting mantra. Being yourself is considered an organic trait: everyone is unique with something special to celebrate.

Yet, in reality, these models undergo makeovers, adhere to unspoken rules of the industry, face relentless challenges, and are eliminated weekly. How this is supposed to boost self-confidence is puzzling. Essentially, these shows imply that being yourself isn’t quite enough.

“Be original” might be more appropriate and honest. Even when contestants are eliminated, it’s often a reflection of differing tastes rather than personal inadequacy. We can all take this to heart and celebrate our genuine selves, finding places that accept and embrace us for who we are.

Aim to Be Outstanding – Dare to Be Outrageous

If recent times have been challenging, aim to be outstanding moving forward. Embrace being bold, adventurous, and spirited. Seek out new experiences and adventures.

If you’re crafting your New Year’s resolutions, consider checking out my previous post for inspiration here. To maintain consistency and inspiration: