hustle and heart

I feel like the last few years have been a lot of change for me. I didn't realize how much I had grown until I looked back, so our little ghostie friend is here to remind us.

1. Set aside time to think. Google gives its engineer a thinking day each week. This has been shown to increases their creativity – and also their productivity.

2. Play games. Research indicates that playing competitive games encourages us to come up with creative strategies and solutions. This can be applied to all areas of life.

3. Learn from your mistakes. Sometimes inspiration and genius comes from connecting the dots between your mistakes.

4. Ditch the rules. Often thinking outside the box – and abandoning the normal practices and rules – will free your mind to think of a completely new solution.

5. Give yourself permission to fail. If you’re too scared of failing then you’ll never take a risk. Also, we need to go down some blind alleys on our journey to success.

6. Break with the routine. Change the order that you do things, your environment, or room. That breaks the “same old” thinking patterns, and gives rise to new ideas.

1. Frame challenges as opportunities.

2. Look for the good in every situation.

3. Seek feedback from people you respect.

4. Don’t equate the need to improve with failure.

5. Develop grit; keep working for your goals.

6. Reward perseverance, commitment and hard work.

7. Don’t compare yourself to others; be proud of who you are.

1. Treat everyone equally – as if each person is important to you. If you are part of a group of friends, no individual should feel less liked, valued or wanted than anyone else. Show respect for each person’s opinions and ideas. Don’t think of anyone as unpopular.

2. Be interested in others, and what matters to them (even if their interests seem boring to you). Being listened to affirms that you’re a valuable person; and often we’re just looking for a listening ear.

3. Be friendly, warm, outgoing and talk to everyone. It’s easy to ignore or overlook those who are shy, or those who feel awkward and don’t know what to say.

4. Be kind to everyone. At times this can be hard as people can be difficult or unkind to you. But it says more about them than it does about you.

5. Use people’s names when you’re talking to them. It conveys that they are ‘someone’, and builds a stronger bond.

6. Compliment people. Try to notice something good in everyone you meet. But make sure you’re sincere when you give a compliment.

7. Share the joke with everyone. Don’t make inside jokes. It’s exclusive and unkind. Everyone should feel they are part of the group.

It's important to be balanced in our pursuits! We can't focus too hard on self care and then not work towards making a better life for ourselves. In the same vein, we shouldn't work so much towards the future that we burn out and can't enjoy today. Life's a balance, and I hope these dancing friends can help keep you grounded!

The year was made up of lot, and it can feel vulnerable but also affirming to acknowledge that both good and bad things happened. You experienced it all, with strength, perserverance, and love. It's okay if everything wasn't amazing! You had good memories and accomplishments despite the rough patches. Here's to a lovely, full banner for the new year as well!