Less is More

Did you make a New Year’s resolution in 2023?

We’ve lapped the first quarter of the year–are you still on track? If you’re anything like half the population, your resolution has already failed. That’s why this year, the only resolution I made was to not make any resolutions. The simple act of changing your expectations is so liberating.

Using the start of a new year to set a new goal (or set of goals) makes complete sense. Just like entering a new decade of life gave me the motivation to understand and accept myself as I am. 

To Your Own Self, Be True

Goal setting is a great way to keep you on track toward what you value, but even that, at times, can feel like more work. Before you set goals or resolve to make/break a habit, consider learning about yourself and your key motivations based on your personality type. You might be familiar with personality tests like Myers-Briggs or StrengthsFinder. I really like the Enneagram test. I was lucky enough to have a friend who is somewhat of an expert in the topic assess me, but you’ll likely be able to narrow down your type to one or two different numbers based on the descriptions. I have yet to find a reliable, free online test, but there is a paid one available here. 

I am a (cut-and-dry) Type 7: The Enthusiast, which has taught me that I thrive on exploration and desire new experiences. I tend to overwhelm myself with everything I want to do and see, so I adopted the words “Simplify” and “Reset” as my mantras for 2023. But knowing that I’m always in search of more, I framed my goals for the New Year like this:

More movement

More meditation

More simplifying

More presence 

More fun!

If you are the type that is disciplined enough to make and keep a resolution, I applaud you! You should feel proud that you have an effective strategy for personal growth. But if you’re anything like me, drop the guilt and honor yourself.