#38 | 1.26.24 - Resolutions Rescue! // 66 Good News Stories from 2023 / Free Stock Photos / Stolen Device Protection on iPhone
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Resolutions Rescue: Reviving Your Goals
It's that time of year, isn't it? The initial thrill of a fresh start has faded, and life's realities are tapping us on the shoulder. If you’re anything like the folks referenced in this article, it’s possible that your New Year's resolutions might be hanging by a thread right about now. But here’s the good news: it's not only okay to stumble; it's part of the journey and it’s the decisions we make in that moment that determine our success. With that in mind, let’s look at some wisdom from people way smarter than me to discuss how we dust ourselves off and get back in the saddle:
Embrace Your Imperfections - Dr. Brené Brown (one of my favorite authors) reminds us in The Gifts of Imperfection:
“You aimed high, and if you've slipped, it's a sign you're human, not a failure.”
Brown writes about the power of embracing our imperfections and vulnerabilities. It's not about hitting every target with precision; it's about understanding that the journey toward these goals is often messy and imperfect, yet profoundly beautiful. A good reminder to pat yourself on the back for the steps you've already taken and remember that imperfection doesn't equate to failure. To put it another way, where you are now doesn’t have to be where you end up.
Tiny Habits, Big Changes - There’s been a lot of content recently on the subject of habits. I remember reading in BJ Fogg's, Tiny Habits:
“If your resolution feels like a mountain, maybe it's time to turn it into a series of small hills.”
James Clear also writes about this in Atomic Habits. The basic idea is all about scaling down our ambitions into tiny, achievable habits that naturally grow over time. Struggling with daily workouts? Start with five minutes of stretching. Want to read more? Begin with one page per day. Small actions are far less daunting and help rebuild the momentum you might have lost.
To help keep momentum with our goals, my wife and I have been using the Streaks app, along with some wisdom from Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld has been credited with saying you can miss one day, but not two. The Streaks app is very customizable, so I’ve included that with my resolutions for the year.
Find Your Why - From Simon Sinek's book, Start with Why:
“Sometimes, we fall off track because we forget the ‘why’ behind our goals.”
Sinek’s concept is simple yet profound: understanding and reconnecting with the reason behind your resolution can reignite your passion for it. Whether it's to improve health, learn a new skill, or bring about a positive change, reminding yourself of the purpose behind your goal can be a powerful motivator to get back on track.
Remember that you set your goals for a reason. Don't let the guilt of a speedbump prevent you from pursuing them. Every day is a new opportunity to restart, recalibrate, or even redefine your resolutions. Your journey towards personal growth doesn’t hinge on a flawless execution but on the resilience to continue, especially after a stumble.
Keep going, you've got this! :)
66 Good News stories from 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this article. It’s full of stories (66, to be exact) of stories that flew under the radar in 2023.
Free Stock Photos
I received a question this week from Jenny A. in North Carolina:
Hi! I enjoy the newsletter, but I’m curious - where do you get your photos? Do you just google those?
Well, Jenny, I used to. Nowadays, I head to either Pexels or Unsplash. They are both great sources for free, royalty-free stock photos. If I don’t find anything I like there, I ask ChatGPT (Dall-E) to generate an image for me. Good question!
New in iOS 17.3 - Stolen Device Protection on iPhone
In Apple’s latest update to iOS 17 (17.3), you can activate Stolen Device Protection to protect against the rare instance when someone has stolen your iPhone and knows your passcode. Pretty cool.
Words to wrap up
A question I’ve been pondering:
“How are you complicit in creating the conditions of your life that you say you don’t want?”