Happy New Year! As you dive headlong into 2024, there’s a good chance that you’ve laid out some goals for yourself. And sure, while it’s great to finally clean out your closet, set a record half-marathon time, or make that next jump in your career, Simon encourages you to think bigger. “It’s simply a reality that New Year’s resolutions tend to be pretty self-centered,” he says. “If you look out the window, we are living in a world that is anything but peaceful.”
Can you actually help make the world a better place? Simon strongly argues that you can, and it starts with quieting personal judgments and replacing them with curiosity and a kind ear. “If we want to live in a world without war, then we have to stop fighting among ourselves,” he says. “If we want to live in a world with less tension, we can agree that we have to stop arguing. If we want to live in a world where we feel heard, we have to start listening.”
Yes, that means making others feel heard—even if you don’t agree with them. “If we claim to be values-driven human beings, let us demonstrate the values we hold dear, even when others do not,” he says. “Let us commit to making resolutions that advance the greater good in serving each other. And ultimately, it’s good for ourselves and our families too.”
From all of us at the Optimism Company, we wish you a very happy, healthy, creative, and inspiring New Year.
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