I make New Year’s resolutions every new year. Also, on every birthday. Frequently, on Labor Day weekend (it’s the beginning of the school year, and the end of summer — my least favorite time of year.) And on numerous random Monday mornings through out the year. Like most people, I don’t usually keep these resolutions for long, but as I’ve mentioned before, that doesn’t stop me — or the rest of you — from thinking that this time will be different.
Even though I don’t keep these resolutions perfectly, or at all, I still think that I have improved my life and myself over time in the effort. I’ve either started to do better at something, or realized that doing better at that thing wasn’t really so important to me anyway.
But this year I want to do something different. Most resolutions are about stopping or starting some habit — quit smoking, lose weight, exercise more — and habits are really hard to change. Usually we are lucky to just shift our behavior a notch or two in a new direction. What I’m proposing for this year would actually be easier, and very likely more valuable.
I read an article recently about how our brains develop over time. (And it was in the Harvard Business Review! Life is weird.) Anyway, it said that, contrary to what scientists used to think, our brains can continue to grow and develop no matter how old we are. Just like with muscles, the more you exercise and challenge your mind, the more neurons or connections or something will grow in there, making you smarter than, or at least keeping you as smart as, you have ever been.
There were a number of recommendations, but the one that struck me was — keep doing new things. Keep thinking about new things. Think about things in new ways. Do stuff you haven’t done before.
Part of the reason this was in HBR was to suggest that an organization needs to maintain its intelligence in similar ways. Promoting from within is good, but bringing in someone with a different background is good too. Shake things up once in a while — that sort of thing.
As I may have mentioned, I have a milestone birthday coming up this year. And as much as people say 50 is the new 30 (they do say that, don’t they?) the fact is that by even the most optimistic calculations, my life is more than half over. Also, like most middle-aged people, I’ve settled into certain habits of life and thought.
Based on that article, among other things, this year my resolutions are:
1. Do something I’ve always wanted to do.
2. Do something I never thought I would do.
I have a short list for #1, I need to do a bit of feasibility study to be sure I don’t overcommit. Also, neither of these things have to be huge — maybe I’ll just read a book by a conservative author, or go to a concert or play that I wouldn’t normally pick, or take a class in something I don’t think I’ll be good at. (Dare to not excel!)
How about you? One advantage of this forum is that I will now feel I need to report back to all of you, which makes me more likely to follow through. So let’s help each other with this one. Tell me what you are thinking of trying to do this year, to make 2008 a year where you do more than just what’s expected. Let’s shake things up.
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January 5, 2008 at 6:41 pm
Lauren (Annalira)
My resolution this year is something along the lines of what you’re talking about. I’ve been a knitter for a long time – I can make lace and socks and blankets and hats with pretty cables. But I have never knit a sweater.
So my resolution for this year is to do something I’ve never done before – I’m going to wear a sweater that I’ve knit with my own two hands.
So I picked a pattern and some pretty yarn (a cardigan, since it *is* Texas after all, and the yarn is a dark brown/purple/light blue hand dyed). I cast on on New Years Day, and so far, so good!
I also want to challenge myself to do something I never thought I’d do, and I thought about making a resolution to sing something (by myself) in public, but I also realize that there’s more to getting over performance panic than just a new year’s resolution, so we’ll see
January 7, 2008 at 9:09 pm
HonestChitChat
Hi there,
I like this post. You know the funny thing I have found about New Year’s resolutions is that they give us the opportunity to state, “I want X.” And you know what they say about writing something down? It’s like 75% more likely to happen. The other cool thing is that it is generally something you want but dont think about everyday. The missing link to the New Year’s resolution is the action. That’s our job right? Well, last year I had a resolution that I was going to write and publish a book in a year. ….The book got written, but it’s still in draft form and definitely isn’t published. As an amateur writer theres a ton of stuff I don’t know (especially how long it takes to conceive and birth a book.) The beauty of the New Years resolution though was it gave me the ability to say, “I want X.” I think that’s part of the confusion some of us go through. If we don’t take time to sit down and state what we want, we’ll end up drinking an extra glass of champagne next year because were bummed about something were missing and pissed off because we don’t know what it is. I love New Year’s! A happy one to you!
January 10, 2008 at 2:49 am
celera
Hey Lauren, performance panic can be challenging. Can you ease into a solo performance by doing some small group performances? Another thing that has really helped me in life is Toastmasters. I know that’s talking, not singing, but it is a very good experience, in a very supportive setting, for getting over the fear most of us have of being the center of attention.
And Honest, thanks for stopping by! You make a very good point — sometimes just thinking about resolutions clarifies in our minds what’s important. Congrats on getting that book written — that’s the hard part! I think..
January 29, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Lauren (Annalira)
Re: Toastmasters – I’ve actually done some of that, and I have very little trouble speaking in front of people. Even large groups of people. The fear thing seems to be regarding music in particular – and I’m not really sure why that is. Probably a self confidence thing (I know that I’m a relatively decent speaker, but I have HUGE doubt issues about my ability as a musician).