10 Considerations for 2022
Nature doesn’t know that a new year is coming. But our minds do. And our minds are meaning-making machines that require calibration, reframing and discipline. To that end, here are 10 considerations you can use as a framework as you decide how you want to go into 2022.
Other than on matters of love and mission, beware of assuming permanence or expectations of how things will be. The future is not guaranteed to anyone and attaching to an assumed future is a source of great suffering.
Beware of exiling yourself in order to achieve what you think you want to achieve. No goal or achievement is worth becoming someone else in order to achieve it.
The primary daily task is to get centered in your heart. This changes the lens of everything to Reality. Without being centered, everything is an illusion - either of delusional optimism or despairing negativity.
Determine your standards about the kind of life you want and the people you want to be in relationship with - then stick to them. The ego-mind will constantly tempt you to lower your standards in order to feel safe. But freedom is far more important than safety - and lowering your standards is lowering your freedom.
As my new tattoo says, fear is the door to strength. Whatever you fear, don’t try to figure it out all in your head. Diligently go out and do something that truly scares you. Example: I’m legit scared on multiple levels of going out dancing (something I’ve never done). But I’m going to do it anyway because I know that it will eventually become a strength.
Similar to above … put yourself in challenging situations. The more you do this, the more you become your true self. I created a list of challenges that I want to experience this coming year. I did one each for relationships, business, creativity, physical, spiritual and mind. Message me if you’d like to read them.
Borrowing this from my partner, Virginia: Instead of focusing on planning for activities, focus instead on planning for beliefs. What you believe in determines your results. Determine what you believe then follow this prompt: “Because I believe _________, I will achieve ___________.”
The most important question to answer: “What will I create this year?” This could be art, lifestyle, business, community, relationships, self-care - or a combo of all these. Whatever the mix is for you, approach it all with a creative mind. This is the only accountability you will need.
Problem-solving is a binary feature of the mind. It is a very useful tool when there are actual problems to solve. But when there aren’t, learn to put the tool away and focus instead on presence. Working on getting OUT of problem-solving mode quickly is one of my top intentions for 2022.
Resting is a strategy. Sure, there are times to suck it up and grind. There are times to move fast. But to accomplish either, you need rest of mind, body and soul. Make room in your life for unbound time in solitude, nature and with those you love.
“The Principle of Priority states (a) you must know the difference between what is urgent and what is important, and (b) you must do what’s important first.”
― Steven Pressfield
Here’s a prayer/mantra I created for the coming year:
May my first impulse be love.
May my words always be true.
May my faith never become abstract or a theory.
May I be connected to Source to bring art and light into the world.
May my body be a temple, my mind an employee and my soul my highest priority.
May I be consecuente in every area of my life.
Happy New Year!
This is the last essay of 2021. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber.