Most new year’s resolutions revolve around skills, productivity and results. We set goals for our work, our education, our fitness and health; all things that can directly improve our circumstances, financial or otherwise. However, it’s important to reflect on more personal matters. Take your heart into account! Your emotions and your spirit deserve attention and care too, yet they’re what we normally sacrifice in the pursuit of more material goals.
There’s no point in grinding yourself to dust in order to achieve something. As a musician, forcing yourself to endure endless frustration, fury and impotence because you want to reach a certain level of technical proficiency in an unreasonably short amount of time will only give you burnout. In the same way, self-punishment for not adhering to the plan of a weight loss journey will only make it more difficult, increase your insecurity, and negatively affect your health. American actor and comedian Jason Alexander explains it beautifully in this clip taken from a masterclass at Boston University:
Observe your process, acknowledge what you’ve achieved and what’s still out of reach, and pace yourself in a gentle way. Work smarter, not harder. And also, extend that same kindness to the people you work with, and beyond.
Being kinder to others can make a great difference. There’s so much negativity around, and you see it in many different contexts. For example, whenever I go to London, I’m taken aback by the way people drive over there. In comparison to drivers in Birmingham or the North, those in London aren’t patient or helpful. They horn at the smallest inconvenience, yell at other drivers and make rude gestures. The other day, we were at a junction when someone who wanted to turn right mistakenly remained in the middle lane. When they tried to correct their course, other drivers didn’t give them the space they needed. They kept driving fast around the car and horning like crazy. My husband and I commented that such behaviour was detrimental for everybody. If instead of being so aggressive, they allowed this person to move to the correct lane, everybody could go their merry way easier and faster. Less stress is always desirable!
So let’s be kinder towards ourselves and others this year 2024. Let’s try to be more understanding, and also clearer in our communication. By focusing on the good that we can bring to the world, we’ll make it better for everybody, together.
