As we step into January 2024, it's a time of excitement, resolutions, and promises for positive change. We've all been down this road before, declaring "new year, new me" with plans to eat healthier, hit the gym, read more books, and perhaps start a business.
But let's face it, the cycle often repeats itself. The initial enthusiasm fades as life's distractions take over—work, friends, family—pushing our goals to the background. Well not this year! This year is about setting clear priorities and establishing boundaries to protect those goals. There are countless distractions in our lives and with smartphones in our hands 24/7, it's crucial to ensure these distractions don't overshadow our goals.
Boundaries are emotional, physical, and relational limits set to safeguard your well-being, maintaining a healthy balance between personal needs and the demands of the world. Think of them like the lines on a sports field, preventing interference from the outside.
Why are boundaries so important? They help you put your needs first, ensuring your priorities remain front and center. Time is our most valuable asset, and as the years pass, it becomes increasingly essential to use it wisely. Eddie Murphy once remarked, "75 years, that's all we have if we're lucky." Yet, research suggests it's even less, especially for certain demographics. Time is fleeting, and setting boundaries becomes a powerful tool to make the most of it.
I've witnessed the power of boundaries in my own life. From protecting time for personal goals to managing emotional capacity, boundaries are crucial. Whether it's saying no to distractions or communicating your priorities clearly to loved ones, it's about saying yes to yourself.
Setting boundaries isn't about being mean; it's about asserting your priorities. Reflect on your goals, those resolutions you made at the beginning of the year. Before saying yes to someone else's request, check if it aligns with your goals. Communicate with loved ones, explaining your journey and the need to prioritize. If needed, don't hesitate to let calls go unanswered or texts unread. Remember, saying yes to yourself may sometimes mean saying no to others.
In the end, it's about creating a mindset that puts your goals first. The first step is reflecting on your aspirations, then communicating or simply not engaging with distractions. Make a habit of starting your day by focusing on your priorities, not diving into social media or other distractions.
As we navigate through 2024, let's make it a year of genuine change. Be the new you, accomplish your goals, and only then can you extend your hand to help others. Here's to a transformative year ahead! This is Jelan Abrams, signing off. Happy New Year, and let's make it count!
Overview:
Recap of typical New Year resolutions: health, gym, reading, starting a business.
Acknowledges the pattern of setting goals every year but often not following through.
Theme: Setting Clear Priorities and Boundaries:
Emphasizes the need to set clear priorities to avoid distractions.
Reflects on the common cycle of excitement in January, followed by distractions and neglect of goals.
Definition of Boundaries:
Boundary defined: Emotional, physical, relational limits to protect well-being and balance personal needs with external demands.
Analogies with sports: Football, basketball, and soccer have boundaries to maintain fairness.
Importance of Boundaries:
Prioritizing personal needs first.
Time is valuable, and setting boundaries helps use time wisely.
Reflection on the limited time we have in life, citing a quote from Eddie Murphy's movie.
Types of Boundaries:
Time Boundaries:
Illustration: Goal of reading 10 pages a day disrupted by a friend's crisis.
Emphasizes protecting time for personal goals.
Emotional Boundaries:
Example: Discusses the emotional toll of getting involved in others' problems.
Encourages focusing on personal issues before helping others.
Communication Boundaries:
Advocates for communicating boundaries to loved ones.
Suggests explaining the need for personal time and goal accomplishment.
How to Set Boundaries:
Reflect on Goals:
Encourages revisiting New Year's resolutions.
Evaluating requests against personal goals.
Prioritize Goals:
Emphasizes saying "yes" to oneself by saying "no" to external distractions.
Stresses the power of saying "no" to protect personal priorities.
Communication:
Recommends open communication with loved ones about setting boundaries.
Discusses the importance of conveying the need for personal time and goal focus.
Non-Communication Approach:
Suggests not answering calls or messages during focused time.
Highlights the importance of prioritizing personal goals without explicitly explaining to others.
Conclusion:
Reiterates the importance of putting oneself first.
Encourages listeners to focus on accomplishing personal goals before helping others.
Advocates for sharing the podcast to help others embrace a similar mindset.
Jelan Abrams:
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E-mail: [email protected]
