How to position yourself up for the best year of your life.
Using intentions and crazy ideas to live in abundance
How often do you set New Year’s resolutions and completely blow them off after a couple of weeks? I know I am guilty of this. There is no motivation to complete them once you get back to the grind of your daily life after the holidays.
However, in 2017, I decided to take a different route to my year. Instead of resolutions, I set intentions for how I wanted to live. I also made a list of the most absurd things I could do in 2017. I believe I got the absurd list idea from Tim Ferriss but I can’t be sure. In completing these two exercises and executing on my intentions and some of my ideas, I had one of the most eventful years of my life.
“Life is perpetual movement. There is nothing fixed.” Bruce Lee
At the end of 2016, I wrote a few quotes and personal intentions in my journal that I wanted to guide the following year of my life. At the top of the list was a quote by Nietzsche, which reads: “There is one path in the world none can walk but you. Where does it lead? Don’t ask, walk!” Under this, I wrote the intention to live life with an abundant mindset. These two ideas helped to make 2017 one of the most fascinating and eventful years of my life.
"If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will." Greg McKeown
For example, the quote by Nietzsche helped remind me that this is my life and I must stop living up to the expectations of others. Whatever I decide to do in life, I need to blaze my own trail. The only way I can do that is by living life with an abundant mindset. There are so many opportunities in the world to make my mark and by continuing to live in scarcity, I realized would only hold myself back. For me, an abundant mindset means to not fearing change and staying open to all of the possibilities life has for us. I learned to be happy for others’ accomplishments and quit comparing myself to others. The world is not a zero-sum game and we can all grow together. While I had other intentions, I believe this intention laid the groundwork for my most absurd list.
"The world has enough conformists. Be ready to stand your ground and live by your own rules." Brian Mackenzie
When I wrote my list of the most absurd things I could do in 2017 at the end of 2016, I forgot about it until the fall. As I look back on my list now I actually did about half of the things on there. For example, I quit my job in the investment industry to begin moving towards a career and life I was passionate about. I started my own newsletter on self-growth and becoming your best mentally, physically and spiritually. I competed in the World’s Toughest Mudder. I also went on my first solo adventure when I attended the XPT Experience in Malibu.
Through all of these adventures, I learned a lot about myself and grew a tremendous amount. It took me a long time to build up the courage to quit my job. I believe starting the newsletter and going on the XPT experience were instrumental to this. These experiences taught me that I can do whatever I want and the world is full of adventure. We don’t need to be limited by our beliefs. We need to start new projects and take action. Action breeds confidence, not the other way around. I ended my year with The World’s Toughest Mudder. This event confirmed that I can surpass any challenge and I won’t back down when life hits me hard.
"If you don't do something everyday that makes you feel small you haven't really been alive." Laird Hamilton
While 2017 was very challenging at times, it was the most rewarding year of my life. I am truly grateful for all of the people that helped me through it all. Another intention of mine was to cultivate meaningful relationships and give up petty gossip and negative people. This allowed me to strengthen bonds with the positive people in my life and allowed me to enter into new and meaningful friendships with a lot of potential.
"Did I choose courage over comfort when I had the chance?" Brene Brown
What are you doing to set yourself up for a great year? If you are still setting the standard resolutions that you constantly break like I did, maybe its time to try something new. I am currently in the process of setting my intentions for 2018 and deciding what are the craziest things I can do this coming year. It’s going to be another exciting year and I can’t wait to see what is in store. What crazy things can you do this year? You never know where it might lead. You might end up with the most exciting year of your life too.
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