As we move through the holiday season toward the New Year I see the same patterns emerging as last year, and the year before, and maybe that’s part of the problem.
- Self help gurus are flooding my email inbox with “Christmas gift ideas”, “end-of-the-year bargains” and other sales pitches for their books, CD’s, and webinars.
- Television broadcasts are dissecting and analyzing the holiday spending of Americans (over and over).
- Year in review commentaries are picking up everywhere. This year’s focus seems to be on the failing political systems around the world.
- Individuals are more and more obsessed with weight loss and everyone feels the January surge in dieting and gym membership building up in the wings.
So how about something different this year?
Instead of listing a bunch of unrealistic New Year’s resolutions, how about having a private conversation and agreement with a friend to support him/her in making one key change for 2012? Or how about a “self help swap”. Get together with your friends and colleagues and trade the books and CD’s you bought in all the previous years. Maybe something that didn’t quite click for you will be just the thing for a friend. Mitigate your comments with compassion. Make 2012 the year you learn to give advice, offer opinions and even disagree with civility. A different political view, idea on the “proper” diet, or belief about social issues does not does not make someone evil or stupid—just different from you.
Shake things up a bit this New Year’s Eve; go for small but meaningful changes.
