Domains of Resilience
Welcome to my first newsletter for 2022. As promised, these next editions will be discussing the various domains of resilience (refer to previous newsletters from the link below as a refresher if you wish to). This one is quite lengthy, much longer than usual, but it sets you up for the coming topic.
Please open the attached document, so you will see what I am talking about in this newsletter. What I am sharing with you here is the culmination of research and conversations with some very smart people.
My mentor, and friend, Olympian, Dan Collins knows more about keeping your eye on the prize and staying focused on what you want to achieve, than anyone else I know. Dan is a two-time, Olympic medal-winner and has represented Australia at four Olympic Games. I think that qualifies him as an expert in focus and tenacity.
He shared with me, in great detail, his strategy for how he approaches each new year. I have taken Dan's wisdom, and you may recognise some of Stephen Covey's First Things First work in here, as well as traditional meditation focus stuff too, to create this tool to home in on your own plan for your year.
This chart will support your self-care VISION for 2022. I realise we are already halfway through January, but it is never too late to have a think about, and even reshape, where you want to be and get to.
Whatever your opinion is on resolutions and goals, it helps to have a strategy for how we want to tackle this coming year. This year has already begun and is already shaping up to be something we never even considered.
The images are deliberately not named as they can mean different things to different people, and you can choose the ones that resonate with you. They are themed across four areas, but you are not obligated to choose any more than mean something to you.
I will say that the circular design in the first quadrant is not often recognised but it is an international symbol that represents Gratitude. To my mind, gratitude shapes our mindset. Looking at the world through 'what's right' spectacles rather than 'what's wrong' spectacles.
A great exercise, by the way, to practice gratitude is to name just one thing every day you are grateful for. But the kicker is that you cannot repeat that one thing on any subsequent day. You will find that in a few weeks you have to dig deep to find the new thing you are grateful for today. This creates and solidifies a positive habit that will reshape your mindset and outlook on your life. Very powerful stuff. Try it.
This positive approach to our world view then flavours our perception of what is important to us, and what is valuable.
The next part of this process is to come up with your one big word for the year. Your theme. This is very important, as it is with this word in mind that you ensure each of these images is chosen to help you keep your eye on your theme.
My big word, or theme, for 2022 is BETTER. So, I have chosen those images that will support me to be better at self-care, my finances, being a better friend, getting better at play, and finding joy in my environment. That is enough. I don't need to set goals that I may or may not achieve.
Your word can be whatever resonates for you - work, health, love, belonging, helping, career - whatever you want to focus on this year that will bring contentment to you.
Feel free to share this document with family and friends. In fact, it is a great exercise to share with a loved one or partner, particularly if you have a shared path for this year.
Download the work tool below, share it with anyone you think may value it, and I'd love to hear from you if you have any questions or comments.
Here's to a great year for us. I hope it is all you wish of it for you and yours.