Resolve to live a courageous life in 2023
Q: I know I should be setting New Year's resolutions for 2023 because it's right around the corner. It's somewhat defeatist because I often set big goals for myself then don't even begin them. I've got money goals, fitness goals and career goals and I even know exactly what I have to do to make them happen. But I find making the necessary changes a bit scary and this fear seems to hold me back. What's the best way to get my act together so I can follow through on my resolutions?
A: The solution lies in changing your mindset and giving yourself a brand-new lens through which to view your world.
I recently got this idea from a book I read, titled The Road to Courageous Living: Learning Audacious Self-Love and the Skills to Harness Personal Success," by Michelle Burleigh. (Spoiler alert: I cried at the marriage proposal!) This brave and gutsy gal gave me a whole new perspective on life!
After a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, Burleigh wrote this book, generously sharing the skills we need to honour ourselves and live our truth, by freeing ourselves from our self-limiting beliefs. After turning the last page of the book, I decided right then and there that I would set scarier goals for myself and then bring them to fruition by living a more courageous life. And I encourage the same for you.
You see, this is the only life we've got - it's important to stop acting as though we get to redo life over and over, that we get second, third and fourth chances.
But we don't need a terrifying cancer experience or to travel to the brink of death like this author to put on the armour of courage in our lives. Instead, we can borrow that strength and hard-earned wisdom from her to make courageous changes of our own.
It's easy to timidly tiptoe through life, not setting challenging goals, the kind that can really scare us. By definition, everything inside our comfort zone is, well, comfortable. But everything outside our comfort zone is where our growth lies. It is courage that bridges the gap.
In fact, without knowing it, you've already got the right strategy: the goals you have ought to scare you a bit, they ought to make your heart jump, they ought to push your comfort zone, they ought to require courage to act on them. The trick is to not let the fear stop you in your tracks. Like the author, you can put on your cloak of courage and proceed just the same. Goals that require courage mean you are living an audacious life, your only life.
Too often, we know exactly what to do to achieve our goals - we know exactly what steps to take - but it's fear that holds us back. The sad consequence of unfulfilled goals is an unfulfilled life. And no one wants that for themselves.
Courage is the antidote! Perhaps rather than focusing on how big and scary your goals are, simply focus on having the courage to take that first step toward each one, and then the next step, and the next.
Adopting a courageous mindset will positively affect all areas in your life, such as physical and mental health, career advancement, new learning and experiences, relationships with self and others, exploration of spiritual or religious life and - of course - your financial success.
For this pending new year, resolve to live a courageous life. With a racing heart and sweaty hands, you can be fearless and daring in setting and acting on your life goals in 2023.
Begin right now to set your bold intentions so that come the first minute of Jan. 1, you're running out of the gate, living a life of courage!
Thie Convery, R.F.P., CFP, CIM, FMA, FCSI, is a wealth adviser in Dundas, and strives to set scary goals, which require her living a courageous life. Her column appears biweekly in The Hamilton Spectator. Thie invites your questions at TheSpecMoney@gmail.com or by visiting ConveryWealth.com.