Get Up And Do It: Almost 2024

My practical guide on finally making the changes you want

I am neither a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions nor of all these to-do lists we tend to contemplate when the Gregorian calendar system tells us a new beginning is waiting around the corner.

Every day, every minute, every second is an opportunity to start new and you are always a decision away from a change. This is powerful. Yet, this time of the year is really for many to focus on the changes they finally want to make, so I guess I am using this wave to release some thoughts on that and hope they will be helpful to you.

Make a list

Take a piece of paper. And a pen. If you feel stupid, then do it in your head but it will be way more impactful once the formed thoughts flow from your head through your hand onto the paper. Trust me.

Draw an X- and Y-axis. Like a coordinate system. The X-axis has two dimensions:

• Changeable
• Unchangeable

The two dimensions of the Y axes are:

• Satisfied/happy/content (whatever positive feeling you want to think about)
• Everything opposite (i.e., unsatisfied…)

Now you should have realized that you need a pen.

And for the sake of clarity, here is my very sophisticated sketch:

Have you paid attention? Because I messed up the X and Y axes. But it does not matter. Anyways, moving on.

Alright. You probably know what is going to happen next. You are going to write specific things into the different quadrants. Bottom-right are the great things that just fell into your lap but are out of your control. Whatever it is, family, good genetics, a natural gift for languages, great hair (even with increasing age). Congratulations! Top-right you mention the things you are happy about and worked your ass off to get (because these are things you can influence): Your progress in running (in my case), your progression in your career, the house you constructed, the language skills you improved. Whatever it is! Be proud of those. The goal is to shift as much as possible from the top-left to the top-right by the way.

But let’s focus first very briefly on the bottom left. This is an area we should waste the least amount of energy on. Because it is all the crap that happens but that is out of our control. The world is complex and about 80% (don’t take this estimate seriously, I just came up with this) is unchangeable for us. It depends on interactions with others, on nature, and simply what happens around the world. In effect, this is an area you acknowledge but don’t focus on, because you cannot change it! Period. The only thing you can change is how you deal with it.

Now comes the area you SHOULD focus on, which I kindly indicated in my sketch. These are the things that bug you and are changeable. You know, the things that you keep being upset about but always procrastinate instead of making the necessary steps for a change. Think of this quadrant as your playground for the next year. Don’t overload this area by writing down 100 things. Start with just a few that you want to focus on.

How to handle fear

Now, think of all the reasons why you don’t change the things written in the top-left. And don’t fool yourself, they are in the top-left, so you have the power to change them (otherwise, they would be at the bottom, which, as we just discussed, we don’t focus on).

So anyway, now you are going to write down all the reasons why you don’t change these things. Be as specific as possible (and by the way, all of this is for yourself, so when I say write it down, I don’t mean it necessarily literally but do it in a way for you to realize it as well as possible).

Anyway. So by “being specific”, I mean trying to find out the real reasons. So when you think about fear, what is it you are afraid of? Try to name these things. And be brutally honest with yourself.

Then, you are going to decode your self-invented dumb reasons for why you cannot do certain things.

Make it a challenge to beat yourself in your own argument. Try for your optimistic, driven, keen side to beat the excuses.

When you don’t start

So, after you know you can (and will) effectively change your, let’s call them “top-lefts”. You are probably thinking about when to start.

Well, I will tell you: you are going to start now. Otherwise, you will read this again in 2025, 2026, 2027… (you get it) and nothing has changed at all.

I will make it a little easier for you though.

One focus

You are going to select just one thing. One thing you want to focus on for 2024. And then you think about the steps you need to take to make the necessary change.

If everything seems like an unrealistic task, don’t panic. Break it down into all the little steps and tasks — and look at those you can start today. Don’t think about the result yet. This is going to take time (and this is why it is hard).

This is your focus for 2024. And this is the thing that you can put on the top right in case you are reading this article again next year, before sliding into 2025.

Changes are hard. Especially big ones. Especially those, that take time and where the effort is not visible or evident right away. But change does happen, once you start taking control and implementing the steps necessary to achieve your goal.

Going into 2024, I wish you all the best, lots of success, adventure, good sex, and tons of new experiences.

And may you be able to shift as much of your “top-lefts” to become “top-rights”.