Become The Person You Want To Be

Looking at the most significant lessons of the year is a fitting way to wrap up 2023 and start afresh in 2024.

The past year brought about substantial personal growth, and I appreciate the wisdom gained from various experiences. May these insights prove as valuable to you as they were to me.

1. You Learn For Change, Not For Exposure. 

Derek Sivers once said, "If more information were the answer, we'd all be billionaires with perfect abs."

In other words, getting the correct information to change our behaviour is not the problem—changing our behaviour is the problem.

Making a habit of approaching new information with the mindset of, "How am I going to change my behaviour in light of this new information?" is one of the most valuable meta-habits that can be developed and accelerates personal growth remarkably.

2. Intentions, Not Resolutions:

New Year’s Day rolls around, and the air is thick with resolutions… those well-intentioned but often abandoned promises we make to ourselves (and maybe post on social media) at the stroke of midnight.

We vow to shed pounds, conquer mountains, and finally learn that difficult language.

Yet, by February, many of those resolutions have faded into the background.

While the desire for self-improvement is admirable, the truth is that resolutions are notorious for falling short. Studies show that a whopping 80% of resolutions are abandoned by February.

So, why do we keep setting ourselves up for failure?

Perhaps it’s the rigid nature of resolutions. They often involve concrete goals with strict deadlines, leaving little room for flexibility or adaptation.

As life throws its inevitable curveballs, our carefully crafted resolutions crumble under pressure.

But what if there was a better way?

That’s where intentions come to your rescue. Unlike their resolute counterparts, intentions are about setting an attitude rather than a specific goal. They are open to interpretation, allowing us to navigate life’s twists and turns with grace and resilience.

Also, Intentions focus on “how,” and resolutions focus on “what.”

Resolutions often focus on achieving specific goals, like losing 10 pounds by March.

But how you achieve those goals is equally important.

Intentions shift the focus towards developing the habits and mindset necessary for long-term success.

Instead of simply “losing weight,” you might set an intention to “incorporate more mindful eating practices” or “move my body in ways that feel joyful.”

Do you get the point?

As the renowned author Maya Angelou wisely said, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” Intentions are the embodiment of this philosophy. They allow you to learn, grow, and evolve as you journey towards your full potential.

3. Don’t Let Fear Hold You Back:

Let’s be honest, fear can be a real party pooper. But here’s the secret: highly successful people don’t let fear paralyze them.

They face it head-on, knowing that action is the antidote to fear. They take that first step, no matter how small, and watch their confidence soar as they conquer their anxieties.

4. Embrace Lifelong Learning:

The world is constantly evolving, and so should you. Highly successful people are lifelong learners, always seeking new knowledge and skills that equip them to adapt and thrive in the ever-changing landscape.

They understand that learning is a journey, not a destination, and they embrace it with open arms and a curious mind.

5. Surround Yourself with Your Tribe:

We are social creatures, and the people we surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives.

Highly successful people understand this, and they choose their company wisely. They build a network of positive, supportive individuals who inspire, motivate, and believe in them. They find their tribe and their tribe lifts them to new heights.

6. Quieten the ego, look for the lesson.

Ego prevents us from changing essential areas of our lives because it prevents us from objectively seeing reality.

It's easy to feel envious in a world driven by social media. 

If we envy someone's success, we feel strong emotions when we think of them.

This emotion prevents our logical brain from understanding what made us successful and helping us get there.

The same applies to many other areas of life. Don't let your ego prevent you from seeing clearly.

Photo by Terry Vlisidis on Unsplash

7. Baby Steps, Giant Leaps

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither are lasting habits. Trying to overhaul your entire life overnight is a recipe for burnout and, let’s be honest, epic meltdowns.

Instead, think micro-victories. Read a page before bed instead of scrolling until your eyes bleed. Small, consistent wins build momentum, proving to your brain (and yourself) that changing your habits is totally within your grasp.

8. Use accountability in areas that have yet to stick.

Choose someone you can trust who will hold you firmly to your goals and put a recurring calendar invite to call for 5 minutes every weekday.

Keep track of the score; the loser buys a nice dinner monthly.

Take the simple solution unless you're already hitting 100% of your habits and goals.

And that is a wrap. Thanks for reading. I sincerely appreciate those who have been sharing my work overtime. Kindly share this with your friends and let them also enjoy what has over time been making you glued to this newsletter.

Still here, don’t forget to leave claps. If you need help with self-development or need someone to talk to – email me at drsamaad02@gmail.com.