10 Real Ways to Ring in the New Year

10 Real Ways to Ring in the Social New Year

1. Set goals, but stop trying to predict the future.  Why?  The future is adaptable. Use the time you would have spent trying to figure out what 2013 is like and go do something incredible and create the future.

2. Do it, or don’t.  You know that goal you have had to go back to school / learn a language / take the Caribbean trip / start your own business /etc.?  Either do it, or don’t.  If you don’t, decide to put it on the “To Do Later” list and stop thinking about it.  You’ll only get more depressed that you aren’t accomplishing it.

3. Take time off.  But this time don’t go on vacation.  Go hike back up in the hills and take a few hours and go over your life.  By yourself.  In silence.  No iPod, cell phone or any distraction.  Only you a pen and a notebook/journal.  Start writing what you think.  Take time out to really evaluate your life.  When you do, you will remember who you really are and feel a pull to do those things that really make you happy.

4. Do what brings you joy.  If you are on this earth you might as well do those things that bring you joy.  Real joy, not the fleeting joy.  Not just merely happiness.  But deep joy.  If we are not feeling moments of real joy throughout our life, we are doing something wrong.

5. Stop doing those things that won’t bring you that joy.  No matter how hard it is.  Does it mean you might have to quit your job?  Yes.  Does it mean you might have to make some hard decisions about your health and the way you treat your body?  Yes.  Does it mean that you might have to stop playing video games, obsessively watching TV or even give up Facebook?  Yes, Yes, Yes.  If it is even mediocre activity that doesn’t lead to happiness, it is time to reevaluate and make sure it is worth doing.

6. Make weak things strong.  Find a weakness and make it strong.  If not strong, work to take it out of the weakness category.  Spend some time on yourself, to improve yourself.

7. Do something awesome.  Something you have always wanted to do.  Something that when you tell others the story they will say (of course), “That is awesome!”  It will make you feel like you again. Not because others will think you are awesome, but because you just are.

8. Make yourself indispensable.  Most importantly, to your family.  Secondly, to your profession or that thing you are passionate about.

9. Go serve.  Do something for someone else for which you will not receive compensation.  By losing yourself, you will find yourself.

10. Share.  Share what you will do, how you will do it and commit.  Then go rock the world.