Last year I saw tremendous life restoration, particularly a return of hope and joy.
What 2022 didn’t bring, though, was a return of habits. Consistency was a challenge for me. I think this is perhaps an unsurprising result of a lot of extended emotional, physical and work stress.
Let’s call it Life PTSD.
We’ve been on long windy path through a valley of hardship. From that perspective, it should be no wonder that I feel depleted and find it difficult to build up the “want to” for anything.
When I woke up at the beginning of December and realized I had the faint thought that I wanted to do some things, I realized I was on the way to the other side.
Realistically, the other side is probably still some distance in front of me. It’s going to take time to build habits which form patterns which lead to renewed passion and rediscovered (maybe even redefined) purpose.
My supervisor brought a favorite personal philosophy to our organization: “Be brilliant at the basics.” This isn’t a pronouncement of failure. It’s a reminder to stay focused on what is a foundational expectation when there are lots of competing possibilities demanding time and attention.
I like that philosophy! I think the call to be brilliant at the basics is exactly the method I need to rebuild the my habits. Or maybe even build new and better habits.
So my word for 2023 is basics. I want to focus on the basics that are foundational to who and what I am, particularly in my life outside of work.
Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Proverbs 4:25-26
