Want to make a New Year’s resolution that really matters this year? Rather than weight loss, eating better, or getting more sleep, try this one – make your New Year’s resolution to be a better person.
It’s no secret that the world is a bit crazy these days. If we all resolved to become a better person, imagine the peace and prosperity we could truly attain on a global scale in 2023. To prove that such a resolution is achievable by each and every person, regardless of age, we have put together a simple plan for you to follow – how to become a better person in one week!
Make Their Day MONDAY
Think of someone, and make their day!
What It Is: Who’s day can you make today? Start the week off with a bang with Make Their Day Monday. Begin today’s mission by identifying someone in your life whose day you can make. Did someone in your family recently get sick or hurt? Make their day! Do you have an elderly neighbor that could use some help with yardwork? Make their day! Do you know a new mom who could use a ready-made meal as she tries to juggle her new family life? Make their day! Think of someone in your life who could use a little boost, then set out to make their day brighter.
Why It Matters: The busy life we live often clutters our mind, making us forget about people around us; people who matter to us, make us feel special, or just the ordinary people we meet every day. But let me tell you something – all of that can change in a second by doing just a small, simple act of good. And it does not need to be fancy; never underestimate the power of a word of encouragement or a small smile to a passer-by. Do what you can to make someone’s day a bit brighter!
“When you take care of yourself, you’re a better person for others. When you feel good about yourself, you treat others better.” – Solange Knowles
Try It TUESDAY
Do something you have never done before!
What It Is: Part of becoming a better person is constantly pushing yourself outside your comfort zone to try and explore new things. On Try It Tuesday, do one thing that you have never do before. It can be something crazy like skydiving, but it can also be simple yet profound – cold call a prospective employer, visit a nearby nursing home, try Vietnamese food – just get out there and try it!
Why It Matters: Life is full of surprises and challenges. Doing new things will broaden your horizons and help you to develop self confidence. By doing this you will learn new things, do new things, and in the process come to understand yourself better. You will learn what you want from yourself and your life, which is immensely important when planning your future career. Do not be afraid! Get out of your comfort zone and stop living with ineffective habits and routines. As Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “Do one thing a day that scares you”. It will take you one step further to your success every day!
Wishes WEDNESDAY
Bring your dreams, or someone else’s, to life!
What It Is: Wishes do come true, and today is the day! Wishes do come true, and today is the day! Does your little cousin wish he could be Spiderman? Take him to the local park and look for real spiders. Do you have a friend that desperately misses a loved one, and wishes they could see them? Find a simple picture with that person and frame it as a small gift. Wishes Wednesday is challenging, but may also hold potential of bearing the most ‘success’. To truly understand the wishes of someone else, you must be a very good listener, deeply attuned to what someone is ‘saying’, even if it may not be obvious. In other words, you need to be good at reading in between the lines to read the heart of others. This is perhaps the greatest glimpse of success – imagine if everyone in this world were walking around trying to determine each others’ wishes and working earnestly to help them come true? What a wonderful world it would be, and how rich in success your life would be!
Why It Matters: Dreams represent the most significant factor in our lives. They reveal our wishes, passions, and motivations. They reveal us as individuals and represent the center of our existence. Every dream has a purpose, and it is your mission in life to follow them! However, sometimes it is necessary to stop endlessly dreaming and start taking action towards achieving your dreams. Setting goals can help in the realization of our imaginations. Make a plan, set clear and specific goals, find a mentor, and follow the path of success!
Thank You THURSDAY
Say thank you to those we often forget!
What It Is: Today, make a conscious decision to to think of and say thank you to ‘necessary people’ – people who we depend on every day but who often go unnoticed and un-thanked. For examples the mailman, the librarian, your doctor, a favorite teacher (past or present), the bus driver, your favorite local waitress, etc. Say thank you to these necessary people for everything they do to help you, and let them know you appreciate them. You can express your gratitude with a simple yet heartfelt word of thanks, a handmade card or baked treat, a dollar store surprise bag, or whatever else you can think of! Today, make it a point to recognize and say thank you to those who deserve it but don’t always get to hear it.
Why It Matters: Gratitude is the key to happiness and is the strongest positive emotion. A simple “thank you” makes people feel good and it shows them that you care. And did you know that an attitude of gratitude can improve your health? It strengthens the immune system, displays positive emotions and improves people’s social life. Not bad for a simple sign of respecting others!
Future FRIDAY
Make the future a better place, today!
What It Is: As Benjamin Franklin said, ““If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. On Future Friday, work to make the future a better place for yourself, your community, and the world. Is there a class that you have been wanting to take? Join today and learn a new skill for the future! Could your town use a bit of spring cleaning? Gather your friends and spend an hour picking up trash. Do you have an idea brewing in your head to solve one of the world’s biggest problems? Tell someone about it! The success of the future depends on what you do today, so get out there and get going!
Why It Matters: Future planning is very important. It gives perspective on how we want to accomplish our goals and shows a path to success. Maybe it looks so far away from now, but setting goals and making a plan to realize them will be a winning combination for success with time, persistence, and hard work.
Do this NOW!
The one thing that successful people have in common is VISION. They know exactly what they want out of life, and have a plan to get it. Do you? Become a better person AND get on the fast track to a successful future through a fun vision board project! Here’s some of our favorites: