Deep Thoughts: What is in my Tool Gear for the New Year

Sleeping, eating, laying down, watching movie/anime, browsing, more sleep, snacking, more sleep, okay a bit of outing, laying down some more, watching, eating, eating, eating!

If you had the same experience this last holiday say, Hai!!!!!!!!

Hai! I have to say a lot of days were like what I described above. My brain became domesticated, all I thought of was house work which I did perfunctorily. I just couldn’t flex my brain muscles. I just wanted to either lie down or watch something.

Consequently, I couldn’t turn up write-ups for the last two Fridays which was both Christmas and New Year. And my excuse; my thoughts were just too shallow. But just a few days before the New Year, my brain woke up as I realized that I had so much I wanted to finish before the year ran out. The 31^st dawned on me and I rushed to do as much as I could. I tried to prioritize and do some of the important ones. Still, I lament the fact that I carried my laundry over to the New Year and had to wash the next day after the celebrations. So much for procrastination. Beware Grace, the arrows of the time thief.

Amidst all the flurry of getting things done, I started projecting how 2016 would be, what I needed to get done and how I wanted to approach each task or project. But I didn’t really have much of a formal plan. Dec. 2014, I came across the 4DX. The 4 disciplines of execution by Stephen Covey and I learned about WIGs (WIGs stand for widely important goals). These disciplines are meant to help one not only plan but also to execute with excellence. The 4DX had its rules for an effective application which mean you had to have a clearly defined goal that affects you greatly with outlined lead measures, a compelling scoreboard and a cadence of accountability to spur you on in achieving those goals. So I outlined WIGs for different areas of my life, health, spiritual, mental, physical, etc as soon as I entered 2015. I drew up a cardboard outlining all the lead measures (the steps I had to take)

For example, one of my WIGs (your WIG must be limited to 2-4) was having a 25-inch waistline by the end of the year. The lead measures outlined was exercise once a day, drinking water in the morning, snacking once a week, etc. Marking each of this meant progress and I got rewarded when I scored above average by the end of the month and my scoreboard hung for everyone to see in my room was keeping me accountable.

Guess how long I kept this going for? Three months and I stopped once space on my cardboard was exhausted. Looking back I realize having WIGs is very good and allows for measuring growth but tenacity and discipline are extremely needed for going a whole year which I may have lacked. I still love the concept of WIGs and may set up a few this year for very very short term goals however my overall plans aren’t going to be that formal with cardboard and markers and red pens. No!

First I am going to have my plans at the forefront of my mind, still written down in my journal mind you – the faintest pen is better than the sharpest memory – and then I will hang on my tool gear for the year with all tools properly sharpened, oiled and ready for use. Each of these tools is important, so let’s have a look at them.

Excitement: Being excited about the activities of the year and the awesome things I plan to achieve and those I haven’t imagined yet keeps my mind happily positive. Hence my green lantern will be ready to shine on anything that looks out of place or gloomy.

Focus: This is extremely key for me. We tend to be swamped by activities that are not in our plans and would not even add value to us in any way. But with focus, I will be able to examine all I do in line with my vision and most crucial, know what task to do per time. Of course, I am able to do this because I know what I want to achieve and understand where I am going (my dreams and vision).

Rhythm: Prior to today, I talked about having a margin; breathing room and achieving this by having one’s own rhythm. Quoting what I said before, ‘…we want to reach the top and someone like me I want to explore what’s over the top but the best way to do so is not to race there just as everyone else but to find my own rhythm and set a pace before climbing/flying to the top. By doing this I know I won’t get weary and end up not even fulfilling my goals or not having enough strength to enjoy the fulfilment because I have collapsed on reaching…’ So this year, it’s all about my pace, my rhythm.

Tenacity: It is the quality of being very determined. It is persistence, not giving up no matter what. It means always pushing forward. I’ve got to achieve it and I’ve got to. This tool is essential as it is so easy to become lax when things aren’t going the way they should or when things are going too smoothly. Let me explain; when things are rough, without tenacity, we would most likely give up and often times, we give up very close to the finish line. On the other hand, when things are going too smoothly, we could start taking things for granted and then become lazy. Therefore I am keeping this tool in my gear to keep moving forward at all times.

Relationships: We all need them, my friends, family, mentors, and books are very important to me. I don’t need to explain further. Staying connected with the world goes a long way in building us up and increases our drive as those around us cheer us on and the knowledge we gain build us up.

Love: I thought about the most non-cheesy word I could use to describe this tool and I settled on Love. This is the Love that is most powerful, ever present, peaceful and assuring, protecting and comforting, teaching and guiding. This is God, this is the Holy Spirit, and this is Love. The consciousness of His presence and His love for me gave me the boldness to enter into 2016 with peace and without fear. He is with me and He is with you.

So, folks, I am ready for 2016, it’s going to be a fun-filled year with dragon slaying, mountain climbing, river crossing, flame throwing, you name it. I am going to be a “man”; swift as the coursing river, with all the force of great typhoon, with all the strength of a raging fire, mysterious as the dark side of the moon (fun days of watching Mulan)

Akemashite Omedetou!!! That’s Happy New Year in Japanese. We are going to have a great one this year.

Jaa Mata!

Note: For more on 4DX and WIGs click here