Renew ambitions during New Year holidays
 I know you are in a holiday mood and reading serious stuff is the
least focus, so let me be brief and relevant this week. A significant
feature during the New Year is togetherness and sharing. The moment you
think of giving or receiving what comes to mind is material gifts that
you can touch and feel.
Fruitful
Giving intangibles make more sense and helps people beyond instant
happiness you get when you receive or give a material gift. Life doesn't
end with one day's celebrations.
Life is short. We won't get to celebrate too many traditional New
Years like the one next weekend. How can we make the holiday season a
more fruitful one? How meaningfully can we spend this holiday season to
make our lives better and help others to achieve the same for the long
term?
Find time to spend with your family reflecting on 'what went well'
and 'what didn't go well' - prepare a list and ask the question why and
figure out what changes are needed to make higher percentage of
activities work as envisaged.
Such an audit will help you discover new ways of doing the same old
things better for greater results and also figure out new areas of focus
for the family. It can range from your career to children's education to
making or giving up relationships.
Happiness
We need new perspectives, insights, ideas and energy and motivation
and time and lots of other intangible things that can't be bought off
the shelf. Happiness is in the hearts and minds of people not in
materials.
It shouldn't limit itself to traditional holidays or statutory
holidays. It can sometimes be found on the most ordinary of Mondays.
Some times it just blows in like a swallow.
Sometimes when you want it most you can't have it. And sometimes
you're up to your elbows in it. The holidays do not have to remain
rigidly the same, year after year.
By opening yourself up to change and letting go of traditions that
have become too difficult or expensive, you afford yourself an
opportunity to shape your holiday experience to reflect your present
lifestyle and personality and learn something for the future.
Renew friendships
It's what holidays are really about - the chance to properly renew
friendships and spend long-overdue time finding out what's going on in
everyone else's life. So a gathering of friends is always a nice
surprise to spring on someone. The holiday season, is typically, a time
when extended family members spend more time together.
Leaving normal routines, hectic travel and decreased personal space
can all lead to conflict with the family members you ironically, want to
enjoy with.
Offer and receive feedback - exchange ideas - mentor others or be
mentored by someone who has something to offer you. There is no better
opportunity than the holiday season to interact with people with an open
mind. Enjoy what you do but also find time to try out what I have
advocated.
I'm sure you will discover new ways of improving your life while
helping others with your new insights. This would offer sustainable
happiness versus a gift offering instant happiness. A good balance
between the two may be a good start.
Celebrate the New Year and enjoy the holidays safely and
meaningfully. |
