Ripe for Reinvention pt. 2
on to the next one
The 4th Edition of The Ultimate Anti-Resolution Guide is here. Download this year’s 5-step PDF for free and set your 2024 intentions with me :)
My theme for 2023 was strengthen and fortify.
My theme for 2024 is cultivate and generate.
I choose to set themes rather than resolutions.
Themes are less rigid, less prescriptive, and less rooting for me to fail.
Resolutions, by contrast, tend to bend towards the strictest definitions of success and limitless ways to fail.
The Anti-Resolution Guide is my answer to the conventional pressure and pitfalls of a new year; a safe place on paper to connect the dreaming with the doing.
Keep reading for a recap my progress.
How’d I do?
The last 12 months were unexpected in many ways.
Turmoil in the workplace, back-to-back travel, twists, turns, and changes of plans revealed new ways in which I play my own worst enemy. Who knew my blind spots had blind spots?
Amidst all that, I still strengthened my financial position with consistent saving and intuitive spending.
I fortified my closest relationships by being more emotionally available and seeking professional help.
And I planted the tiniest seeds of friendship, just trying to sprout some semblance of a vibrant post-pandemic(?) social network.
I endeavored not to blow my life up, despite the primal urge to do so.
Moving Forward
What I really want to do next is shift my focus.
While 2023 was all about building and protecting my foundations, 2024 will be about returning to my creativity and making things beautiful.
I gained a lot by giving into the corporate cosplay last year, and I will continue to extract whatever stability I can. But I need to replenish my inner artist to keep the hustle a sustainable one.
That means getting back into creative communities and third spaces. It means taking greater risks in the work that I produce inside and outside of my 9 to 5. And being extra disciplined about the amount of media I consume in my quiet time. Where has all my quiet time gone, by the way?
What I’m Into
Speaking of media, I plan on doing another fast from IG, TikTok, streamers, and podcasts soon. I’m in desperate need of hearing my own voice again and a media fast is one of the simplest ways for me to tap back in.
When I return to consumption, I’ll prioritize the pieces that inspire me the most. Lately that’s been independent film and longer, slower, quiet vlogs like the ones below.
The algorithm has rewarded me with creators who speak calmly, showcasing their unique personal styles in a format reminiscent of PBS television.
In a landscape full of quick cuts and shouting hooks, this quiet content is a safe haven.
Final Thoughts
Recapturing my creative spirit begins with remaining present in my own life.
And being present in a consistent way is uncomfortable.
In other words, I'll be writing more frequently.
I look forward to hearing from you.
I really appreciate the responses some of you left on my last message.
Knowing my reflections still hold value in our small circle has encouraged me to keep sharing.
More to come.
What’s your theme for 2024?
With love,
JP