THE NEW year is a beacon of hope and limitless possibilities for us to project new plans, see the bigger picture, or a different perspective. Take a new path or a different direction from what we usually do. The opportunity presents endless prospects. No other time is better than the present when everyone is in this big break we are all compelled to take. Our decisions for ourselves may affect others in different ways, big or small, knowingly or not. But the important thing is we get to decide to do something, as against not deciding at all.
No man is an island
We are who we are because of someone. We have been formed, or transformed into the likeness of the people who raised us, the persons we admire, or people we look up to as special breed, heroes, or some other label. They have become who they are because of others who have influenced them in the same or opposite manner.
It’s not that there is no work available because there is always so much we can accomplish. It is when to start that matters. /Photo by Alena Koval
And if we find ourselves stuck somewhere, not able to get up from brooding, or in dire straits even, some thoughts cross our mind, and the first one is finding blame. Most of the time, we end up being unkind to ourselves. Drifting further into the idea is not favorable for both the body and mind. That is why it is critical to take some breaks in life with a grain of salt. Stay above the situation because that does not define you.
Here are Ten Ways You Can Take Advantage of Limitless Possibilities this 2021.
Set a vision for your life
You might think, the last time I did that, the pandemic took it away, or I probably won’t reach it even if I try.
Royale Scuderi is a creative strategist and writer specializing in cultivating the human potential for happiness, health, and fulfillment. She says, “The best way to look at the concept of a life vision is as a compass to help guide you to take the best actions and make the right choices that help propel you toward your best life.”
It will surely be doom and gloom if you will not create a vision in the first place.
Change your situation
Because any step forward is a good thing, a life coach would advise a rewrite of your resumé as a significant step. Keeping a journal and filling it with daily insights, mini-plans, mini-challenges, and mini-achievements you have encountered will be great. Change you can make, and it is up to you.
Take positive action
Whatever situation you are in right now, it will pass. Do not let this temporary condition take over your well-being, your outlook, or your frame of mind. But things don’t just happen. You have to make them happen because only you can.
Take online courses or some help online from providers who share lessons on their channels. There are free and paid options. The possibilities are limitless. /Photo by Julia M. Cameron
Your priorities are yours, not theirs
People looking over your shoulder, micromanaging you, or placing too much pressure on you must be signed off. You know who they are, so mute them. Turn their volumes low or zero until it is only your voice you can hear. You know what your priorities are. No one can tell you otherwise.
Set up priorities you can measure and that others cannot mess up with. /Photo by Sajith Ranatunga
Pause for a little experimentation
Consider bad luck as a good omen for you to rethink and fine-tune your goals or shift your direction a tiny bit. If you think you are in a streak of misfortunes, pause for a moment, but do not lose sight of the prize of your vision. The small battles you have won are proof enough that you are onto something important. Who says the road is easy?
A time alone is important to evaluate what was done and what to do next. /Photo by cottonbro
Skill up
There are several productivity courses online that are in high demand now and will be in the future because artificial intelligence or AI cannot cover them just as yet. These human skills, not for robots, are future-proof, and as most humans say, the only hope in a world of automation and AI. These skills are what you bring to the table when Human Resources are out to hunt some heads.
Start future-proofing now and harness yourself with proper tools you can add to your arsenal.
EQ, it is also called emotional quotient, is the ability to understand, use, and manage your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Quite a mouthful, this skill is top-of-the-list, higher than a college degree or a Ph.D.
This skill is more than just exchanging information; find out why.
Solving problems using indirect and creative approaches is not new. It is a different discipline and a promising one. Dr. Edward de Bono introduced this method of problem-solving in his 1967 book The Use of Lateral Thinking. It is said Google uses this method in screening hires.
If you haven’t heard of Edward de Bono or Lateral Thinking, perhaps you have been too busy thinking in conventional ways.
~ Forbes Magazine
These are exceptional proficiencies needed in this interconnected world to fully engage in and act on issues of global significance. An increasing number of careers involve working across cultures. A case in point is remote working where clients are usually from across national borders. The International Affairs Office of the United States Department of Education shows the extent of what these skills can do.
The ability to change your actions, course, or approach to doing things to suit a new situation, is one of the top-most requirements in any job, especially in the work-from-home type. It is also called Resilience Skill.
Focus on your strengths and face limitless possibilities that await
Dire situations are an opportunity to place your strengths under the stress test. So challenging times are not bad because they give you the, well, convenience to assess your strengths. If you find a weakness, then it is time to add power. Muscle up and improve on the parts that need attention. We have identified some skills you may learn or level up. All you have to do is push that start button and rev up.
Just do it
Write down three things you could do differently to fix a problem and complete them. Evelyn Guy shares seven hints to develop the attitude of Just Do It. These hints still resound loudly.
Get what you want
No one will give you the life you want or the career you prefer; that is the reality. You will need to work that through. Besides, only you know what they are, so you alone can gauge and derive satisfaction when you are moving towards that end. To get what you want, you need to assess what it is you desire in a career and your life.
Is it fulfillment, happiness, a feeling of security, friends, expression? The metrics are relative to you. There is some help to consider and they will be so rooted in your life vision and goals. In this pandemic, you have to be sensitive enough to know when to use opportunities that knock on your door. Enough creativity to map out paths to reach your targets is also necessary. Remember, there are a hundred ways to skin a cat.
Herminia Ibarra, an authority on leadership, gives out very relevant advice: reinvent your career in the time of coronavirus. Balancing the pressing need to ensure basic survival, she shares five strong pillars to consider in the revamp.
Do not settle for anything less
Aspire for the better you. Who you see right now may not be what you want to see ever again. So giddy up! So much is going on there must be a spot for you somewhere. If you stay in bed, someone else will get that slot. Despite the pandemic, you cannot settle for the lesser version of you.
Be kind to yourself, do not over-think, and take it easy. / Photo by Thiago Mobile
Starting with one of the items listed here will set you up for the life and career you want. It is all about perception, the way you choose to look at things. There are limitless possibilities for you this new year. It is all really up to you.
As an afterthought, I love the movie Ever After, A Cinderella Story with Drew Barrymore. A line there that hits right to the heart…
Nothing is final ’til you’re dead, and even then, I’m sure God negotiates.
~ Rodmilla (Angelica Huston)
The F Word: Food for thought conveyed here is that the limitless possibilities of your acts and decisions affect not only you but others, too, directly or indirectly. So be wise. Be thoughtful, and have faith.
Featured image: Eureka! photo by Burak K
Chef Chris Lachenal strives to elevate Filipino cuisine and revive dishes that are slowly losing popularity. A former chef instructor, he emphasized the importance of understanding the process of things in order to grasp refinement in food. As a chef-for-hire he satisfies his clients, always. He is the creative and passionate soul behind FoodCreations by CCL.
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