Happy New Year, Further fans! Here’s to a fantastic 2016.
My guess is that many of you have made some resolutions, and hopefully you’re still good with them so far. 🙂
Or, maybe you’ve been convinced by the mounds of evidence that says New Year’s resolutions don’t work. For example, resolving to lose weight often leads to weight gain.
Perhaps you’re smartly keeping your resolutions to yourself. According to more than 80 years of research, “people who talk a lot about how they’re going to achieve some goal end up being less likely to put actual work into achieving that goal.”
There’s another side to this, though. To “resolve” to do something literally means finding a solution to a problem. A problem with you.
Okay, but is this a problem to you? Or is it a problem that your significant other, your friends, or society thinks you have?
As the JFK quote above illustrates, conformity to the expectations of others is the enemy of personal growth. Mainly because becoming what you truly want to become is much more important to your happiness than becoming what others think you should be.
One way to focus on meaningful personal growth is to apply “design thinking” to yourself. This is a process (link below) that literally gives you a break from what you’re “supposed to do and be” and instead allows you to identify what you really want and then implement.
Readers of Further know that we grow through the pursuit of personal projects and goals. But our choices must be intrinsically motivated (what we truly want to do), instead of externally motivated by conventional achievements, in order to achieve well-being.
In other words, you be you. But aim high … this isn’t a dress rehearsal.
- ‘Design Thinking’ for a Better You
- This Year, Make A Better Resolution Than Hitting The Gym
- Top 10 Strategies for Making Your New Year’s Resolution Stick
further: health
The Long Road Back
Okay, if you’ve let your fitness slip a bit (like me), it’s certainly a legitimate part of your growth plan to hit the gym. Don’t let the Buzzfeed pictorial format of this article turn you off, it’s actually quite helpful.
Here’s How To Actually Start Exercising Again
Plants Become Cool
There’s no doubt about it … the way we eat is evolving for the better, and the move away from processed junk to more vegetables and other whole foods is becoming the norm. It’s shaking up the food industry in a big way.
Vegetables Likely To Take More Of Your Plate in 2016
Diet Right
If the simple mantra of “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants” doesn’t work for you, here’s some guidance on how to lose weight in smarter ways. Remember, fitness is gained at the gym, but weight is lost in the kitchen.
- 30 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Naturally (Backed by Science)
- Best Diets: Lose Weight, Improve Your Memory
further: wealth
Wealthy How?
“Money is a way of measuring wealth, but is not wealth in itself. A chest of gold coins or a fat wallet of bills is of no use whatsoever to a wrecked sailor alone on a raft. He needs real wealth, in the form of a fishing rod, a compass, an outboard motor with gas, and a female companion.”
Humans Need to Rediscover the Difference Between Money and Wealth
Travel Richly
Travel for business is often a consequence of earning a living. But travel for pleasure and personal exploration is an aspect of a rich life. Nothing wrong with saving money at the same time. Really solid tips here.
8 Things You Can Do Now to Save Money on Travel
Level Up, Overachievers
“You’re the person in the office who has 30 different labels in your inbox, an entire whiteboard of to-dos, and every productivity app the iTunes store has to offer. There’s not much more you can do to be organized, right?”
8 Strategies For People Who Are Already Super Organized
further: wisdom
Work That Brain
This article talks about peak performance in the context of business, but the methodology works in any context. Pair this with the “design thinking” article to kick 2016 into high gear.
How to Train Your Brain for High Performance
The Mindful Express Lane
We kicked off 2015 talking about meditation and mindfulness, and you couldn’t escape the topic all year long. That’s not likely to change this year, and the advice is getting even more practical than ever.
Just 6 Seconds of Mindfulness Can Make You More Effective
Mythical Change
“Why do we struggle so hard to change our habits — why do we so often fail? There are a few reasons, but there’s one big one — a popular myth about habits that leads people astray.”
Don’t Fall for the Common Habits Myth that Stops People from Making Successful Change
__________
Further is one day later than usual due to the wonderful “getting back to work” thing after the long New Year’s weekend. That said, what day would you like to receive Further going forward?
Take this quick Twitter poll and tell me what you think. Also, please consider sharing this issue with friends or family who might need some help with making 2016 great. Thanks!
Keep going-
Brian Clark
Further
