20 mental upgrades for a new year
As we enter a new year, the last thing we need is to operate from a place of mental chaos.
Over the years, I’ve picked up many ideas that have served me well and kept me focused, happy, creative, and resilient.
Here are some quick tips to absorb over New Year party leftovers:
Your need for external validation is your greatest source of misery right now. The way out? Realise you don’t need validation from anyone to be happy. Why? Because you are already happy by default.
Progress happens through systems far more than goals (goals are good too). Prioritise building daily practices you enjoy and make them easy. Start with 10 minutes of the things worth doing, and keep doing them.
If in doubt, do more. Embrace creativity. Create so much they can’t ignore you.
Your attention determines your reality. Treat it like your most valuable currency. Delete apps that steal it, turn away from the things that drain you, and place relentless attention towards the small handful of things that move the needle the most.
When stuck on a problem, ask: “What would this look like if it were easy?” There’s a part of you that knows far more than you give it credit for.
Most things that upset you are thoughts about reality, not reality itself. Notice the difference and watch how problems dissolve when you stop feeding them with yet more thinking.
Create first, judge later. Trying to avoid mistakes kills progress. The most important thing is that you complete your work, not that you endlessly perfect it.
Don’t expect anyone to make the first move. Never wait. Go out, and create what you want, even if it feels a little icky.
Fear of judgment gives you an excuse to stall. Use this fear as a sign you’re leaning into the things worth doing. Are you going to let a feeling stop you? Ride it. Keep going.
Forgive your parents and your family. Everyone was doing the best they knew to do at the time, given the state of their thoughts. Mental resilience starts with forgiveness in the home.
Success leaves clues. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Study those who’ve done what you want to do. Emulate their already-proven approach, but make it your own.
You don’t need more motivation. You need simply to be biased to doing things. More than most people who avoid and escape. Do things, even if it feels weird. The action will create momentum, which will make you fearless.
Don’t take money seriously. The moment you see it as a game, it becomes fun. Learn to love money. It’s just a tool. It isn’t ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ Money made through enjoyment comes easier.
Before reacting to anything, pause and ask: “Is this worth my peace?” Drama is optional when you value your personal joy. Never take things personally.
Become a master at starting before you feel ready. You will never feel ready. Clarity comes through action, not endless analysis. Small steps beat perfect plans.
Life slows when you slow your breathing.
Quality rest produces quality work. Make breaks non-negotiable. Not because you’re lazy but because you value giving your most nourished, creative self to everything you do.
Commit yourself to having no arguments. These are just proving matches that strengthen egos and weaken relationships. Let others win, and move on with dignity.
If you feel like an outsider, rejoice. Not one person who accomplished anything of worth in the history of man felt like they belonged.
Your worth isn’t in your work. Create from abundance, not desperation. Let go of the need to prove yourself through productivity. As soon as you do, your energy will rise, and you’ll do more of the right stuff with less effort.
Bonus: Be bold in whatever you do, even if you’re not sure. Assertive action is a skill.
Life isn’t always easy, but we can make life far easier on us when we keep up healthy mindset habits like these.
All the best to you for the upcoming next 12 months!
Alex
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I want to post this up on my wall!
Little pieces of Alex's wisdom that are staying in my mind: create, start before you're ready, we are happy by default, do.... I love #9 and #19 especially. GREAT LIST to help us upgrade!
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