Well, now that we are one full month into 2024, it’s probably time for me to jump in and declare my new year intentions and word of the year (WOTY), right? A slow start is still a start.
Last I spent my energy on building “relentless consistency”, which translated practically into enacting habits that were small steps towards big goals. Along the way I was also learning to have more self-compassion and to ask for help.
Looking forward, I want a word that is an action or a verb. I want to MAKE and CREATE things. I want to do more in the creative or brain-forward realm. I need to push myself to engage pro-actively with my environment, i.e. to go after and ask what I want, rather than just waiting for things to be offered to me.
I was also compelled by the discussion of the “generative drive” with Dr. Paul Conti on the Huberman Lab podcast. The generative drive is our inherent drive to create, to be curious, and to engage with the world around us to make things better. It involves thinking outside of ourselves to help others. The way it manifests is different for different people, but the key is to make sure your actions are aligned with your core values. To me, this sounds like the ultimate way to live a good life of satisfaction, purpose, and delight.
So, all that being said…. my 2024 WOTY is…
GENERATE
What this means in a practical sense:
- Write for 24 minutes each day, and see what grows. This can be journaling, blogging, or other forms of writing. I need to develop a better sense of what my core values are, and regular self-reflection will help with that. Also, if I want to be better a writer, then I must write (so obvious, and yet so hard).
- Generate things. Make things with my hands. Carve out free time to craft or draw or just make pretty things for fun. If I’m scrolling on Instagram then I have to make a reel or at least post a story. Don’t just consume; create.
- Plan trips. Host gatherings. Reach out to friends and create the outings I want. Active state over passive.