Stop Resolving: How Can You Challenge Yourself to Seize Each Day Next Year?

I stopped with resolutions years and years ago. Instead, up until now, I examined my systems and see where I might want to practice one small change. (See What’s the Smallest Change You Can Make? for one example.) That has worked well for me.

This year, I’m experimenting with a suggestion via Daniel Steinberg’s Driving Lessons issue of his newsletter: Choose three words for the year. He got that idea from Chris Brogan, in My 3 Words for 2022.

How will I choose my 3 words? I wanted three words that would help me seize the day, to create my best life. How could I live my life with as much joy, acceptance, and gratitude each day? What would that look like?

(That’s a lot of questions!)

I don’t know that I have the “right” words. But, here are my 3 words for 2022:

• Finish.
• Practice.
• Explore.

(Side note: I had a ton of trouble deciding on words, not phrases. Thought you could enjoy laughing with me about that.)

Here’s why I chose those words.

Why Finish?

I hate finishing. Hate, hate, hate it. I love starting. I even love the saggy middle because I can see the end. Then, when I get close to the end, I don’t have the same finishing energy. It’s done “enough.” I just don’t care. Even though I “should.”

I hesitate to admit how many books I have that I need to get out in paper and maybe even audio. I chose “Finish” to remind me to finish and to build finishing into my systems.

Why Practice?

I love to learn new things. And if I want to integrate those learnings, I need practice. The more I practice, the better I get. And the better I get, the faster (generally) I am at this kind of work.

The more I practice, the more options I have for which kinds of work I want to take.

Why Explore?

I need better spreadsheets for various parts of my business and writing. To be honest, I’m not sure if I need a database or a spreadsheet, but I expect to explore that area this year. I’m sure I will explore other areas of learning.

And, when we get to travel safely again, I’m collecting a list of places to physically explore.

My Hopes for These Three Words

The way we live every day is the way we live our lives. That’s why I create and use systems—to live my best life each day.

I hope these words help me guide my actions to live my best life each day. To seize each day as it comes. To challenge myself to live my life the way I want to.

I’ll see how my three words can help me seize the day and create a good year for me. (Regardless of what you do, I hope you create a wonderful year for yourself.)

That’s the question this week: Stop resolving: How can you challenge yourself to seize each day next year?