Making use of new beginnings

Are you still wondering what is the point of making new resolutions and not keeping up? Don’t give up so easily. Choose a resolution that you have never tried at all. You can always try to use the new year to begin a fresh start. Behavioral scientists call it the fresh-start effect. We are more likely to take action towards a goal after time-based landmarks that represent new beginnings. A fresh start also liberates you from the burdens of past failures and setbacks.

“What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?” – Vincent Van Gogh

Listening to disagree

“I want to listen but they expect me to agree.” Many times we are afraid to listen because we think it means we have to agree with what others say. We feel listening and disagreement cannot go together. However, to disagree and clearly explain why we disagree, we need to understand well the other person’s perspective.

“I will listen to you, especially when we disagree” – Barack Obama

Being in the direction of the wind

Five Egrets were perched by the lakeside wall, facing a strong headwind. Slowly, one by one. they took off their flight along the direction of the wind, except for the last one. It struggled to open its wings against a forceful wind. It took off smoothly only after it turned along the direction of the wind. Lesson: Whenever possible, face the direction of the wind and create your tailwind.

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward, author of Fountains of Faith