Screw the top 5 list: here’s how you can own 2017
2016 will forever be a year when the world was turned a little more upside down than usual. Brexit, the continuing war in Syria, the battle against ISIL, the Olympics, Euro 2016, Donald Trump, even phones catching on fire.
It’s shown us that life isn’t always predictable. It’s far from it.
Let’s be honest, 2017 is going to be one of the hardest years to forecast. Because we’ve seen a different side of the world. Or perhaps, a side of the world that’s always been there… we just didn’t see it until now.
Earlier this year I was sitting in a boardroom when Steve Vamos, someone I’ve learned a lot from, said something that’s stuck with me:
“The world doesn’t change, people do.”
Ain’t that the truth. We’ve seen a rise in populism and a growing tribal mentality across the globe. The unpredictable nature of people was highlighted by the fact the pundits — the people we normally look to for some sort of advanced warning — who got it so terribly wrong. It’s clear we’re now living in a time where those that felt they’ve never had a voice are having that voice heard loud and clear.
Tumultuous 2016 (has a ring to it doesn’t it?) is now fast drawing to a close. At this time of the year, apart from trying to make sense of things beyond our immediate sphere of control, we’re reflecting on what we did over the last 12 months and what we want our 2017 to look like.
In speaking with customers, colleagues and friends it seems (like the rest of the world) to have been a mixed year. Quite a few people I’ve spoken with told me they’re keen to swipe the slate keen and start again refreshed. Others have reflected on their success and are looking forward to some R&R before launching out of the starting blocks again next year.
Personally, I would call 2016 transformative. This year I was lucky enough to get married to my beautiful wife and we’re now expecting our first child next year. I stood beside my brother in law and watched as my sister married her soulmate. I met our friend’s beautiful baby daughter. I even managed to help my dog to overcome some of her fears of inanimate objects by using some techniques taught to me by our vet.
The point is, I have a lot to be thankful for. In fact, I strongly believe we all do. It’s why now is a great time to reflect back on all the good in 2016. Because despite everything else, there was plenty of it.
Let’s face it though, at times it can be harder to see the good stuff. Especially in today’s world. We’re so busy. Life gets in the way. We’re often on to the next thing before we’ve even finished what’s in front of us.
When you pair the pace and chaos of today with the human mind — that incredibly powerful thing we all have — it may seem a lot easier to focus on negative. After all, we’re more automatically programmed to zero in on the things that aren’t so good. But if you let your mind start running the show, it can easily cast clouds over our achievements and the beautiful things we have experienced.
That’s why it’s important to remember that when it comes to how we view the world, we always have a choice.
This year I’ve been doing a lot of discovery when it comes to the mind; specifically exploring my own mindset and how this incredibly powerful part of how we’re built can determine the direction you take in life. And perhaps the most important lesson of all I’ve had this year is this: you control your mind, it doesn’t control you.
Seems obvious right? I’m in control of my mind! But are you? For me it hasn’t always seemed like that. Far from it. It’s only when you stop and analyse things do you realise that more often than not, it’s not always you that’s in control.
That brings me back to the headline of this post. So many articles out there focus on the quick advice, the 12 week plan. “Five ways to be more successful next year”, “Eight ways to become happier in 2017”. Notwithstanding the fact I find these nauseating (yes I’ll admit I did try them out back in the day), if I had a dollar for every time I see a headline which features some sort of list I would be a very rich man.
They’re there because we’re so willing to look for something or someone to tell us what to do. To give us that quick piece of advice that will transform our lives, to help us take a bit of a shortcut to get to a more successful place.
The truth is though, the power to achieve great things is within each and every one of us. It’s not given to us — it’s already there. But in order to realise our own ability, we have to change the way we think.
Dr Joe Dispenza, whose work I was introduced to at a calm birth class (side note: if you’re expecting, you have to look this up) is a well known author and speaker who’s research into the fields of neuroscience and quantum physics are designed, among other things, to enable people to lead a more fulfilled and happy life.
The truth is though, the power to achieve great things is within each and every one of us.
Through his in-depth analysis and own personal experiences, he shows how there is in fact science behind the way we think and feel. Specifically, the fact that thinking in a different way results in a physical change inside your brain. So when we have new experiences, when we change the way we think about things, your brain actually changes too. Circuits in the brain rewire and you take forward a new attitude. If you want to learn more, check out his video from the TedxTacoma talk in 2012:
So if we know that taking a different attitude can have a physical effect on our system, to enable us to take control and then move forward the way we want, why do we need top 5 lists? I would argue that the right mindset is more useful in allowing you to create the world you want.
Perhaps some of the greatest material I’ve come across when it comes to mindset is the work of the amazing Carol Dweck, who coined the term growth mindset. It’s where instead of failure, you see an opportunity to learn. Instead of blaming the world you see a different way to do it next time.
I read Mindset earlier this year after I was chatting with one of my peers in the startup space who said the book literally changed his life. So I read it and I can honestly say it’s changed mine. That and some help from my incredible wife who’s own mindset has helped me do things I never would have thought possible.
And as you read Mindset (which I hope you do or already have), you can see the countless stories of people who changed the way they thought about things, who adopted a different approach and who in turn achieved things they never would have thought possible before.
But of course, it’s not just as easy as saying “Hey! Let’s just go with a new mindset starting today”. This stuff takes work.
As Dispenza says in his talk, in order for us to create these new connections in our brain we need to repeat our new experiences. This stuff just doesn’t happen overnight. You have to put in the work. You need routine. Repeat experiences to change the way you think and hardcode that new pathway it into your unconscious mind so you no longer have to think about it at all.
A great example of this is one of the best stories I’ve read this year which was recently published by Business Insider as part of a series of stories where well known personalities write to their younger selves. Ray Allen, legendary NBA player, in a letter to his 13 year old self tells of the struggles he faced and I’ll tell you this — if the letter is one thing, it’s damn inspiring. Through perseverance, practice and commitment, he achieved some incredible things. But none of that was given to him. It came from thinking about things the right way.
Because success doesn’t get given to you on a platter. It comes with hard work. And the greatest success isn’t at the end of a journey, it’s the journey itself.
So you know what, I’m really looking forward to 2017. To give it everything I’ve got. To keep practicing. To keep my mind open, to learn as much as I can and most importantly, to enjoy the journey.
What will 2017 look like for you? Those click bait articles vying for your attention, promising ways to improve your life won’t determine that. The truth is, it’s up to you.
So I wish you a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year. Rest, you’ve earned it. And while you’re there, start thinking about how good 2017 is going to be and how you’re going to make that happen.
