It’s 2023 (or almost, depending on where you are in the world)? It feels like we blinked and 2022 was gone. I am sure we all have stories to tell of how 2022 went — no matter what kind of year it was for you, it’s another page in history now. 2023 presents another opportunity for you to write a new chapter or rewrite a previous chapter in your story. I’d like to share a few thoughts as we head into 2023 which I hope you’ll find useful as you navigate the year.
Stay in the game: I love reading books written by US Navy SEALs; Eyes on the Target by Scott McEwen and Richard Miniter was the most recent I read. I like this quote from the book “…when their bodies were spent, their brains exhausted, and the odds seemed insuperable…“ I believe it illustrates that whatever the situation of a SEAL, the eyes never shifts from the target. As you start executing on your plans and checking off items on your “to do list”, you may come across obstacles or identified risks may occur forcing you to pivot or think on your feet to find solutions.
Whether things happen swimmingly well or you have to jump through many hoops, make sure you stay in the game and keep your eyes on the target. Staying in the game ensures that you can keep “fighting” for the prize. The prize ultimately may mean redefining your target or altogether abandoning it. No matter what happens, make sure you stay in the game!
Make memories: I am a big fan of making (good) memories. When all is said and done and you’re alone with your thoughts I believe the memories you have made are what you replay in your head or share with friends, family and loved ones.
Will you wake up one day and find that life has passed you by and you have no memories to relive? Start today to make good memories — think deeply about what you can do to start building memories. Hopefully you would have built many wonderful by the end of 2023.
Be intentional: Being intentional is being deliberate about what you do. In 2023 and beyond, be deliberate about all aspects of your life. Be intentional about paying attention to your physical, mental and emotional health. Be deliberate about starting new relationships, stopping or letting go of relationships that have run their courses and maintaining existing relationships. Be deliberate about building your career and self-improvement. Be deliberate about travelling and getting an education (education doesn’t have to come from a school or a formal setting). Be deliberate about being a better version of yourself — as a friend, spouse, dad, mom, uncle, niece, aunty, cousin, etc.
Get out of your comfort zone: Growth comes when we leave our comfort zones and may sometimes come with pain. However, if we don’t leave our comfort zones, we may never know what we are capable of. Leaving your comfort zone may mean applying for a role in a different industry to where you’ve always worked.
Leaving your comfort zone may mean learning a new skill or language; it may mean forming new friendships or finding love again. Remember, “nothing ventured, nothing gained” — leaving your comfort zone is the act of venturing! Which of your comfort zones will you get out of in 2023?
Pay it forward: You must have benefited from an act of kindness at least once in your life from a known or unknown source. Whatever the source of the received kindness, pay it forward. Look for opportunities in 2023 to do regular acts of kindness. You may never know the impact your act of kindness will have on the beneficiary and hopefully they will also pay it forward and a ripple effect of acts of kindness is started.
Enjoy life, problem no dey finish (enjoy life, there will always be problems): As you navigate 2023, remember the words of an old sage “enjoy life, problem no dey finish.” Take time to treat yourself — take vacations, buy yourself gifts, enjoy good food. In the words of Jane Marczweski (Nigthbirdie), “you can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore to choose to be happy.”
I hope you stay safe, healthy and blessed in 2023!
