Forget “New Year, New You” – Embrace “New Year, New Self Appreciation”

With the flip of the calendar to January, millions of us aspire to “be a better version of ourselves.” Gyms are packed with people who are trying to be healthier, which is admirable. Fridges are stocked with fruits and veggies. Sweets are tossed in the garbage, and we avoid the cookie aisle at the grocery store. We talk with friends and family about getting together more often and begin to try to find dates that work. We set-up our mason jars to write notes about things we are grateful for or appreciate that happen to us in this new year, filled with hope and promise. We get out those fancy new planners and with a new pen excitedly start to make our goals for the months ahead.

It's exciting really. Energizing in fact.

Why?

Is it the mental reset we need after a busy holiday season? Perhaps it’s the blank slate a new year offers? No matter why, it feels good to have a new start to make new habits.

As you consider your New Year’s resolutions and what you want to achieve in 2024, I encourage you to think inward toward your development and appreciate who you are, your talents, what you value, and what makes you uniquely you. Consider making a nominal investment and take the CliftonStrengths assessment to learn about your Top 5 Strengths (or Full 34…I love the Full 34 for a LOT of reasons, but Top 5 is a fabulous place to start). Learning about your talents and behaviors can be life-altering, both in your professional and personal lives. It was for me and the millions of others who have taken the assessment and embarked on a journey of self-discovery and, more importantly, self-appreciation.

Taking the CliftonStrengths assessment gives you a starting point on your development journey. It provides you with personalized insights that helps you begin to understand yourself in a way you may not have before. You may think you understand yourself, and perhaps you do, but there are times when we can’t see the proverbial forest through the trees because something is so natural for us that we don’t even realize we are doing it! I was working with a team and I asked if anyone didn’t agree with something in their Top 5, and one of the participants said, “Yeah, I don’t agree with my #1 – Restorative.” I asked her why, and she responded with, “I just don’t see it. I don’t see myself as a problem-solver or a fixer.”  Almost immediately, her co-workers said, “WHAT? That is totally you” and proceeded to share examples of her Restorative in action. It was wonderful to see on so many levels. 1 – it was exciting to hear how her co-workers saw her talents shine on a daily basis and appreciated it, 2 – for her to hear that appreciation, and 3 – for her to “own” her Restorative talents in a way that she hadn’t, or couldn’t, before.  I will tell you, that participant walked out of that workshop standing a little taller, walking more confidently, and with a smile on her face.

I encourage you to make 2024 The Year of Self Appreciation and start your journey with the CliftonStrengths assessment.

If you want to learn more, I would love to talk with you. You can set-up a no-obligation introductory call at https://calendly.com/journeystrong or email me at jeri@journey-strong.com.

Cheers to a healthy, happy, and growth-filled 2024!