After looking back at the year, think about 2012.
I will be guided by "The Power of Less," The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential by Leo Babauta.
My goal for 2012 -- to allow myself to enjoy my simply abundant, rich life.
For so many years I suffered from the mythology that I was supposed to earn more, be more, do more, live richer, than I do. I've had painful work experiences out of balance with the rest of my life, debt and dis-ease as a result.
1. There is more and more data to suggest the American Dream is now the American Horror Story if we strive for it without thoughtful self reflection and objectivity. The home outside our means today--that alone has become a simple reminder to reduce our projection of future income, and live on our cash in hand.
2. In America, workers spend some of the lowest number of days away from work of other similar countries, and we typically work more hours. Given the limited number of days per hour, it probably also means we spend proportionately less hours with family, friends, our personal passions, and it probably means we get less sleep.
What if we stopped pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, on sleep deprivation and debt? What other options might be out there?
I aim to take a year to find out. Ironically, I hypothesize that I'll probably be more effective while doing less. Leo seems to think so too. So let's see. This will be hard for an overachiever, things to do list creator and avid speed demon about checking off the boxes.
To start, I'm going to say, there's no need to lose any weight, or do any of those stereotypical New Year's Resolutions. I go to the gym plenty enough, my weight is fine, and I eat OK. I thought I needed to focus on decluttering: home is neat and clean enough and I'll gradually release the paper piles. They are fine and there's no need for a resolution or deadline. They'll sort out, and people in my life will have to deal with the fact that I need time to hunt things down now and then. It's so easy to say I'm going to stop eating chocolate for a period of time, get a six-pack, train for a race---hooey---I can eat all the chocolate I want, and skip the 5K if I so desire.
In fact, chocolate is one of the most affordable luxuries, and it comes to us in intoxicating and rich variety. The trick is watchfulness, self-awareness and gathering trusted others into conversation about life. I loved the article on tossing out performance reviews altogether because of the anxiety, futility and negative backlash surrounding them. I think, and I'll explore this through 2012, the power lies in the ongoing regular conversations with our sherpas regarding our journey day by day.
I have one personal goal for 2012, and I'll shape work goals with my supervisor. And those work goals will probably fall under the simple personal goal umbrella of: "I allow myself to enjoy my simply abundant, rich life." My family and friends are a critical part of my rich life--they are indeed the core of the richness.
Live well.
I will be guided by "The Power of Less," The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential by Leo Babauta.
My goal for 2012 -- to allow myself to enjoy my simply abundant, rich life.
For so many years I suffered from the mythology that I was supposed to earn more, be more, do more, live richer, than I do. I've had painful work experiences out of balance with the rest of my life, debt and dis-ease as a result.
1. There is more and more data to suggest the American Dream is now the American Horror Story if we strive for it without thoughtful self reflection and objectivity. The home outside our means today--that alone has become a simple reminder to reduce our projection of future income, and live on our cash in hand.
2. In America, workers spend some of the lowest number of days away from work of other similar countries, and we typically work more hours. Given the limited number of days per hour, it probably also means we spend proportionately less hours with family, friends, our personal passions, and it probably means we get less sleep.
What if we stopped pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, on sleep deprivation and debt? What other options might be out there?
I aim to take a year to find out. Ironically, I hypothesize that I'll probably be more effective while doing less. Leo seems to think so too. So let's see. This will be hard for an overachiever, things to do list creator and avid speed demon about checking off the boxes.
To start, I'm going to say, there's no need to lose any weight, or do any of those stereotypical New Year's Resolutions. I go to the gym plenty enough, my weight is fine, and I eat OK. I thought I needed to focus on decluttering: home is neat and clean enough and I'll gradually release the paper piles. They are fine and there's no need for a resolution or deadline. They'll sort out, and people in my life will have to deal with the fact that I need time to hunt things down now and then. It's so easy to say I'm going to stop eating chocolate for a period of time, get a six-pack, train for a race---hooey---I can eat all the chocolate I want, and skip the 5K if I so desire.
In fact, chocolate is one of the most affordable luxuries, and it comes to us in intoxicating and rich variety. The trick is watchfulness, self-awareness and gathering trusted others into conversation about life. I loved the article on tossing out performance reviews altogether because of the anxiety, futility and negative backlash surrounding them. I think, and I'll explore this through 2012, the power lies in the ongoing regular conversations with our sherpas regarding our journey day by day.
I have one personal goal for 2012, and I'll shape work goals with my supervisor. And those work goals will probably fall under the simple personal goal umbrella of: "I allow myself to enjoy my simply abundant, rich life." My family and friends are a critical part of my rich life--they are indeed the core of the richness.
Live well.
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