Phetasy News - New Year Magic
Phetasy News - New Year Magic
Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Dumpster Fire (103), Factory Settings 12 - Goals & Resolutions, Classic Walk-Ins Welcome with Matt Taibbi, Politically Homeless - Too Many Inconsistencies & Merch
Greetings from the Phetaverse!
As I promised last week, I said I’d devote this newsletter to sharing more about the process I go through every New Year’s Eve when I’m evaluating goals/intentions/resolutions. I’ve been doing the same thing every year, for decades. I’m not exactly sure how or why I came up with it. There is a certain magic to putting pen to paper. Even if I don’t achieve a goal that year, it’s fun to go back and see the goals that eventually get checked off, years later, the intention reverberating into the ether.
My routine always starts with looking back at my accomplishments. It can range from something general like staying sober—to a specific goal that might have achieved. I’ll include trips that I took, milestones that I hit, projects that I’ve launched. Then I look ahead and make a big list of goals/intentions. I don’t limit myself in any way. Some goals might be more granular and others might be audacious, ideas I am not clear how I will execute. One year it was “get over my fear of intimacy.” I had no idea how I was going to achieve that, but life showed me the path. A simple demonstration of willingness can be powerful.
Then I divide a piece of paper into four quadrants. In the top left I label it “Old Habits Die Hard.” Across from that I write, “New Habits to Replace Them.” In the bottom left is where I list “Fears to Conquer” for the year. The final section is labeled, “If the world ends tomorrow I’ll be pissed I didn’t…”
The habits sections are self-explanatory. What do you want to leave behind and what would like to pick up in place of it? Don’t leave a vacuum because it will be filled. Fears is pretty obvious too. What am I afraid of? Is it a fear that’s keeping me alive—or a fear that’s keeping me from living? If it’s a fear that’s keeping me from living—how can I conquer it? One year it was rollercoasters, and so I went on a shit ton of rollercoasters. Now I love them. Fancy that.
My favorite section is “If the world ends tomorrow” because that is the most revealing to me. It shows me how I’d like to be spending my extremely limited free time. It makes me aware of how I might be squandering it.
So that’s that! My little New Year’s process. Jeren and I devoted the entire episode of Factory Settings to this topic and I’ve been hearing from many of you about what works—and what doesn’t—when it comes to goal setting. I’d love to hear your system for achieving your dreams. If there is one thing I’m passionate about, it’s helping others get out of their own way.
We are off next week for the holidays. Taking a much needed break so we can power up for 2023. Be safe. I love you all! Happy New Year!
Thumbnail artwork by Lara Cullen.
Email laracullenstudio@gmail.com to inquire or contact her.