Will 2022 be a great year for you?
Every time I ask this question, people tend to start their answer with one of two pairs of words:
- No because
- It depends
Neither of which is very optimistic!
- ‘No because’ could easily (will?) become a self-fulfilling prophecy
- ‘It depends’ means you think you’ve no control of how good your year will be
A much more positive outlook is to use the two words that Walt Disney often said:
‘Yes, if’
For example, if he answered the question ‘Can we build Disneyland?’ with ‘no because’ or ‘it depends’… Disneyland probably doesn’t get built.
But instead he said:
- Yes if we get someone else to pay for it
- Yes if we hire the world’s best experts
- Yes if we locate somewhere with good all-year-round weather
- Yes if we have/create good transport links
- Yes if… Yes if…
And if he can build Disneyland, we can help ourselves have a great 2022!
What would your ‘yes ifs’ be about nailing 2022? Maybe something like:
- Yes if I get my work/life balance right
- Yes if I spend more time with the people I love
- Yes if I stop saying ‘yes’ to things I should say ‘no’ to
- Yes if I stop saying ‘no’ to things I should say ‘yes’ to
- Yes if I respect my time more, and not let people hijack my calendar
- Yes if … Yes if …
(Also, notice how the word after ‘yes if’ is always ‘I’ – much more empowering than assuming it’s upto someone else whether I’m happy!)
We still have a lot of 2022 to go. Will you have a great year?
Action Point
List your ‘yes ifs’ – everything you can do, to ensure you have a wonderful, positive, happy year…
… and then do them!
And if your ‘Yes ifs’ include communicating better, these will be a huge help.