New Years Resolutions 2013

2013

Every moment spent not content is a moment wasted, so

seek depth in your passion, practice your ability to be present, and then

. . . 

be content

Here, I found myself again creating the digital summary of my annual New Years reflection session. The journal saw several many pages, but they have been worked into digestible chunks. After looking back on the last year, as well as on the lists of the last several years resolutions, I have found that at least as of late, I have been a lot more successful in consistently pursing these goals when they are digestible. So here, I put for record for myself the couple concrete and abstract expansions of the items that inspired the simple mantra above (that I'd like to have documented);

2013
CONCRETE

Drink more water

Spend time listening to music with care 

Allow side projects and hobbies to be important

ABSTRACT

Pay attention to process

Understand that you are exactly where you are meant to be

Practice you ability to be present

Seek depth in your passion

Things always work out if you let them

Hold yourself to ambitious yet reasonable expectations

Understanding is a constantly shifting creature

Every moment spend not content is a moment wasted - be content

I thought it might be fun and interesting to include my last several years of New Years Resolutions, just as a way to give myself perspective. I have added where I was at the time to assist in this;

2012 

(In St. Paul after applying for Grad School)

The course of this year saw the repetition of many ideas and words. They seemed to come out into two major categories: Trust in my choices - Stability, Focus, Belief/ Trust in who I am - Value, Fullness, Contentment. Therein...

Trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

2011 

(In St. Paul)

Strive/ ENJOY/ Reflect

Flexibility/ Planning

Groundedness/ Change

Live the way you desire

2010 

(In St. Paul after trying Chicago)

Set to "Soweto" by Abdullah Ibrahim

CONCRETE

Dedicate time and resource toward living the way you wish

Spend more time actually enjoying your senses

Establish a morning routine

Personal style = doing what feels good

ABSTRACT

Allow personal and professional interests to blossom and inform one another

See life as a fluid stream of happenings that you are both informed by and inform

Trust your instincts

Be actively present in the world around you

Embrace change in yourself and others as simply another way in which the world unfolds

Seek out a sense of groundedness that serves as both a base for adventure and a point of balanced return

Allow space for moment to become what they will, free of limitation

2009 

(Calgary at DJD)

LITERAL:

Allow personal interests to operate with as much importance as other commitments

Be willing to dedicate time and resource toward living the way you wish

CHOICES:

The choices you make are not limited, but defining

Choices are just pockets out a world where similar happenings are occurring everywhere

See life as a fluid stream of happenings that may not be judged or separated ahead of time

Life as a whole can be informed by art, which in turn becomes a part of your whole life

Let not assumptions interfere with your outlook

Trust your instincts

Show your gratitude

CHANGE:

Retain consciousness of the world around you

Relationships do not have to be life-long to be life-changing

2008 

(Minneapolis after finishing undergrad)

LITERAL:

Give each action the amount of time and resource it deserves

Respect the need for unscheduled time each week; maintain a weekly day off

Allow general interests, personal goals and to-do's to operate with as much importance as work

CHOICES:

The choices you make are defining, not limiting

Choices are just pockets out of a world where similar things are happening everywhere

Resist the temptation to see life in chunks

Everything is a fluid stream of happenings that need not be separated for judged ahead of time

Life as a whole can be informed by art, which in turn becomes a part of your whole life

Let not assumptions interfere with your outlook

Embrace spontaneity with intention

CHANGE:

As it happens in and outside your control, work with change to make it positive

Retain consciousness of the world around you

2007 
(Minneapolis in senior Year at U of M)

LITERAL:

Be conscious of writing, speaking and packing

Money should not get in the way of experiences

Rather than buying a bunch of cheap things you want, save for and make those expensive purchases

MANTRAS:

Retain consciousness of the world around you

Embrace spontaneity with intention; experience life

As it happens inside and outside your control, work with change to make it positive

CHOICES:

The choices you make are defining, but not limiting
Choices are just pockets out of a world where similar things are happening everywhere

Let not assumptions interfere with your outlook

Convention does not have to get in the way of acting, reacting and feeling the way you truly want

Happy New Year :)