This Needs to be Your Motto for 2023

The idea of ‘new year, new you’ is redundant.

Every year, we ask ourselves and each other what new year resolutions we are setting.

That could be…

…Hitting the gym?

…Learning a language?

…Planning a career move?

…Quitting smoking?

However, the large majority of us experience that novelty fatigue after a while, and those aspirations suddenly become a pipe dream that sit on our “ideal self” to-do list, which is sometimes accompanied by a feeling of unfulfillment and disappointment in ourselves.

It’s now 1st February 2023 as I sit here writing this, and I’m posing to you: What was your resolution and what have you done to work towards achieving it?

This is in no way a dig or a way to fast-track you to the disappointment I spoke of, but just allowing us for a second to ponder on your journey of 2023 so far.

(If you’ve taken a few steps already, then fantastic! But, I imagine for most reading this, you’ve hit an obstacle and need a little reboot. And I’m here to give it to you.)

Now, I hate to break it to you, but…

The idea of a ‘new year, new you’ is redundant.

And it’s certainly not a motto I favour.

That’s because it’s a fantastic marketing ploy, which is selling you the idea of changing yourself — and the vast amount of products and subscriptions tapping into that to make you believe that’s what you’re doing is limitless.

Billions are made each year on this idea, which we all know, yet we still keep doing it to ourselves.

I’m going to “sell” you a different idea, that isn’t focused on changing you, but evolving you.

And, if you like, it can take shape much like setting a resolution or goal, but the key takeaway from this is to picture growth, not change.

First, we need to look at the difference between growth and change...

Growth literally means “increasing in size”, and no I’m not saying forget the apple and trade it for a cupcake (although, that’s what I would do).

Change means to “make different” or “replace (something) with something else, especially something of the same kind that is newer or better”.

(These definitions were taken straight from Google.)

Now, the idea we need to change is exemplified nearly everywhere we focus our attention. From television to social media, what our friends say, what we purchase, etc.

At the same time, we live in a generation which thrives on celebrating diversity in all shapes and sizes, loving ourselves and accepting others.

Little bit of a paradox, don’t ya think?

So, I’m posing here a different solution to achieving your goals for 2023.

There are two ideas I want you to focus on, and only two.

1. Create more than you consume, and

2. The “Do Something” principle

Let’s explore 1. first.

Create More Than You Consume...

We spend hours consuming media, and I’m ashamed to reflect on how many hours I’ve lost browsing through Instagram video reels.

For 2023, I made the decision to consume less and turn my attention more towards creation.

And so far, the impact on my mental health, my productivity and feeling of fulfilment has been immense.

I’ve not set time or date oriented goals, e.g. write X amount of words of read X number of books a month.

I’ve simply decided that I’m going to turn the tables to creation more than consumption.

You can still watch your favourite shows and read your bookmarked blogs; this isn’t about limitations, it’s about levelling the playing field more in your favour.

And the best part?

It doesn’t have to be something physical you create, and you don’t even need to be creative.

It could be, for example: if you want to get fitter but find yourself reading more articles on getting fit than actually heading out into the world for even a 30-minute walk — turn that on its head.

Use consumption as a facilitator, don’t just let it suck up your time and energy so you’ve got nothing left to give to yourself.

Your creating could be contemplative and reflecting, such as journaling.

You could create friendships by reaching out to people you’ve lost touch with or strike up a volunteering opportunity.

Creating is something YOU are doing that wasn’t there before.

THAT is growth, THAT is evolution.

So, whatever you want to achieve, you’ll find that by putting the creating part, rather than consumption porn on your topic of choice, as your number one priority, you will achieve — and feel inspired to achieve — so much more.

Now, on that note, let’s focus on 2. which explores more about cultivating the motivation to get up and create in the first place.

The “Do Something” Principle

This was a term coined by one of my favourite thinkers and writers, Mark Manson.

This is a technique he uses to try and create effectively a “snowball effect” when it comes to productivity.

Too often we get demotivated because we’re looking at what we’re looking at as an Everest.

We see the uphill journey before it’s started and it makes the whole thing just incredibly intimidating.

After watching a motivational video or hearing our friends talk about their goals and aspirations, we’ll suddenly download 10 tracking apps and make a list of all the habits we’re going to try and instil.

Sound familiar? Yep, we’ve all been there.

The dopamine rushes in as we contemplate this new fantastic version of ourselves.

That’s, of course, IF we implement all of those new habits.

So, Manson’s “Do Something” principle focuses on literally what is says on the box.

Remove the frills and the intimidating lists, and just do something.

It’s part of a psychological thought that turns another idea on its head: you need motivation for action to happen.

Instead, Manson believes and advocates working on that basis, but the other way around.

Action inspires motivation. It creates momentum, inertia, and by doing something, you’ll then feel encouraged to continue down that path of productivity.

However little that step or action is doesn’t matter, just do it and stop waiting for the perfect amount of motivation to knock at your mind’s door to get started.

Conclusion

Here are the key takeaways from what you’ve read today:

• “New year, new you” and aspiring for change doesn’t work and isn’t a healthy mindset — opt for evolution and growth instead

• Reduce your consumption and increase your creation to grow in any area you’ve set, or would like to set, for yourself

• Don’t set limitations focusing on time or amounts — just be consistent in your creations over consumption

• Start with “doing something” to create inertia for productivity

Here’s to a fantastic 2023, and I hope this advice resonated with you in a way that will help you flourish this year and beyond!