When was the last time you did something for the first time?
I’m turning 60 this year, and for better or worse, it’s safe to say that I’ve formed some habits over the years. It would be impossible not to! Habits are essential to your health. Good or bad, those habits can make or break your chances of achieving and maintaining your goals, like sticking to a nutrition plan or exercising regularly.
But sometimes, habits can become so routine that you might feel like you’re stuck in a rut. And if you think you’re stuck, I’ll bet you are.
So how do you grow through life vs. merely go through life?
How do you go from good to great?
The solution is you must Expand.
Which also happens to be my word for 2022.
How do you expand?
Remember, life is a journey.
And your journey is determined by your choices.
You don’t have to go places to grow. You can start from where you are right this minute.
Read great books. They don’t have to be personal development books either. Read something that makes you see something through someone else’s eyes. Hear other voices. Think new thoughts. You can grow by leaps and bounds by reading.
Learn another language. We talk all day long. Words spill out of us. Now imagine having to think and be purposeful with our words. Your memory improves. Your attention and focus are enhanced. And you just might be tempted to try out your new skills on an incredible trip to the land of your new language1
Transform a negative into a positive. Here’s where making lemonade will serve you. There is always growth after a challenge. Always. Initially, it can be hard to imagine. As helpless or hopeless as it may seem, we all possess a certain amount of resilience to bounce back from adversity and grow from our heartaches and challenges. Adversity can help you persevere and grow. Trust the process. When you look back, you will love, trust and admire the person you’ve become.
Master a new skill. Learn to cook ethnic cuisine. Mountain bike. Water ski. Crochet. Take a class in garden design. Learn to play an instrument. Change your exercise routine. Think of all those things you’d like to do but never have time for. Make time.
Adopt a pet. A dog, a cat, a monkey, whatever works best for your situation. Nurturing a pet keeps your mind and body active and your heart happy!
Travel. The places to see in this world are endless. Exploring urges your longing to learn and keeps your bucket list growing and growing.
Going is a given. Growing is intentional. Let’s GrOw!
