Watch Out 2012, Here I Come

This will be the fourth year of resolutions published here on my blog.

In 2009, I set five goals, and I didn't stick to them very well, I must admit.

In 2010, my goal was "Make Everyday Count."  Focusing my goals for the year like that was much better for me than a list, and I felt a little more successful by the end of the year.

In 2011, I picked the word "Balance," and by doing so, bit off more than I could chew for the year.  I never felt like I balanced anything in my life, and I was left struggling with feelings about myself that were almost destructive.

It's now 2012 and I've been thinking about the direction I want to go.

You see, I've been struggling with myself, wondering if this person I've created over the last 42 years is really the person I should be. I've assembled a box around me, constructed of a strong will, belief in my abilities, busy doing things all the time.  I pride myself in my honesty, my opinion, my faith. I've always really liked who I am. But lately I've been wondering if this box I've built around myself is the box where I want to live the rest of my life.

I see so many amazing people around me, doing amazing things.  I especially notice when someone is really good at something I'm not, and then I wish I was more like they are. I beat myself up about my inability to be like them for a little while, then I resume my regular life in my regular place doing my regular things and staying pretty much in the same spot.  While I try not to minimize my strengths, I dwell too much on these weaknesses without any progress towards improvement.

Let's be honest.  If you have a strength, you really don't need to spend a ton of time making it better, right?  That's why it's a strength--you're already good at it, either from natural ability or from time devoted to improvement.  Unfortunately, I spend way too much time in the comfort of my strengths, thinking that they will pull me through and compensate for those areas in which I'm weak.  That line of thinking won't get me anywhere different, anywhere new.

This is my goal for 2012:

Image from here

Think outside the box I've built of myself and around myself.

I made a list of people I admire and the qualities they possess that I lack.  My plan is still in the rough stages--hopefully I'll have it mapped out completely by the end of the week, but I intend to do two things:

• From my list of 20 people, pick one every day, and when presented with a situation, think, "What would ______ do?"  and then act accordingly--little things like taking time to cook something new or being willing to alter my schedule with no notice to help someone.
• As the year progresses, I hope that my paradigm will shift so that I will subconsciously make these small changes permanent.

My hope is that by the end of the year, one or two of these new qualities will be part of my box--a part of who I am, not just someone I've always wished to be.  Hopes are high.

So, what have you set for your 2012 aspirations?  Link up below and share your goals with us. I linked up Tucker's last letter from NY with his goals as well.  Can't wait to see where you're headed.