If you make one resolution this year, make it this: to take ownership of your life.
That means no excuses on creating the life you want to live. It means working through obstacles to get where you want to be, and it means not forgetting that you deserve what you want.
This sounds simple, but whether you take ownership will likely determine whether you succeed. There are people who go after what they want, and there are people who float through life, hoping what they want will fall into their lap. (Usually it doesn’t.) Which type of person do you want to be?
Getting where you want to be — whether that’s landing a new job or starting a new relationship or writing a book or launching a new project — won’t happen by itself. You have to make it happen. Once you really get that, once you recognize the importance of taking ownership, you will be unstoppable.
So what do you want to achieve? Make 2012 the year you go after it.
I’d love to hear about your Big Goal(s) for 2012! I hope you’ll share them in the comments.
As it’s both a new year and my birthday today, I have been thinking about this question a lot. I’d like to wrap up a big draft of a writing project, photograph more consistently, travel for leisure to an entirely new destination and — emotionally — learn to worry a little less. Happy New Year, Lexi! I hope it’s a fantastic one for you!
I turn 40 on January 6 – so 2012 is huge year for me in terms of change. The biggest, most important goal for me this year is to snag my dream literary agent and to become a published young adult author. The other big goal is to be financially free from an outside employer by June. I have to work for myself – there is truly no other way for me to be happy.
Jen! My bday is on Jan. 6, too. And happy birthday, Roxanne! Sounds like big birthdays are inspiring us more than a new year 🙂 Keep me posted on those goals!
I was about to say my goal is to focus and plan out in which avenues I want to build a business, but I caught myself pigeonholing my life again! I wrote a blog post about NOT doing that, for crying out loud!
So let me re-phrase… My goal this year is to go after my dreams instead of constantly brainstorming about them and trying to choose the best one. Jump in and test the waters. Stop thinking of it as choosing a permanent direction for my life, because all that does is trigger anxiety and perfectionism. I don’t have to figure it all out before I act. Just act!
Go, Jess, GO!
Wow Alexis! You manage to say so much in so few words.
One of my mottos is, “Nothing is a life sentence.” You can try something, try something else, keep trying. I only wish I’d known that 20 years ago!
Yes, Julie! And this applies more today than it ever did before. So true.
I think mine is Be more proactive about doing things that make me happy – i.e. writing, taking classes, cooking, running, etc. So, in that sense, same as taking ownership, huh 🙂
Congrats on the problogger 20 bloggers to watch! That’s awesome! Wanted to share my 2012 new year’s resolutions too; thanks for sharing yours. I have no doubt you will rock 2012! http://shawndrarussell.blogspot.com/2012/01/super-sharing-sundays-new-years-writing.html