Wondrous Anti-Resolutions for the New Year (Shot of Wonder #19)
Do nothing well, live a question, be in doubt, and other possibilities
Dear Tracker,
I’m not opposed to setting resolutions or goals. At Tracking Wonder, we set and track quarterly W.I.S.E. goals. But I do know that most people set and forget goals. I also have heard ample conversation lately of how goal-fatigued some people are. This past decade of hustle, of “moving fast and breaking things,” is taking its toll - on our global economy, our businesses, and our psyches.
Perhaps not coincidentally, in this cultural moment, I have come across what I will call “anti-resolutions” or “wondrous anti-resolutions” - a kind of resolution or intention for being in the world that counters or at least underscores otherwise typical externally measurable resolutions and goals. These are the kinds of resolutions that invite practice and mindset shifts.
They are, it seems to me, meta-resolutions - practices that can inform how you go about your days in pursuit of your goals, fulfilling your responsibilities, or otherwise remembering to relish some part of every day.
And these anti-resolutions are, in a delightful way, not measurable. Still, they are trackable in the best wondrous sense of the word - not in the sense of tracking steps or heart rates.
So, I offer you five such wondrous anti-resolutions for your consideration. Enjoy and let me know which one resonates with you and what other wondrous anti-resolution you’re making or considering this year.
In this week’s Shot of Wonder, I’ve taken a decidedly different tact. I allow myself a lot of relevant digressions and wondrous connections, links, and resources. Let me know if you enjoy this format. I’m thinking of ways to create more sort of Wonder in the News pieces for you.
New here? I’m Jeffrey Davis, author most recently of Tracking Wonder (Sounds True), a Next Big Idea Club finalist. My work has been featured in Fast Company, Psychology Today, MindBodyGreen, Inc., and more. I help entrepreneurs, creatives, and teams think more expansively and advance what matters—without burning out.
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Regardless, I’m glad you’re here. More good things ahead.
