You can play it safe.

Stay within yourself.

Stick with the status quo.

Do nothing different.

Don’t attempt anything new.

You’ll be safe and also limiting yourself.

Limiting what you can do.

Limiting your growth.

Sure, you might fail as you step away from safe.

You might get rejected.

Be uncomfortable and uncertain.

You might also learn.

Conquer challenges.

Adapt to changes.

Seize opportunities.

Do things you really want to do.

Are you playing it safe?

What would you do if you didn’t?

“If you don’t fail now and again, it’s a sign you’re playing it safe.” – Woody Allen

You are not the same person you were five years ago.

You’ve had experiences.

Some good, some bad.

Some experiences you have chosen.

Some have been forced upon you.

All have contributed to your growth.

You are not the same person you were a year ago.

You’ve learnt some things along the way.

Taken a course.

Read some books.

Watched something useful on the web.

You’ve added to your repertoire.

These have helped you to grow.

You will not be the same person one year from now.

Or five years from now.

So be intentional in the direction you want to go.

Where do you want to grow from here?

“I can’t go back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

You have all the answers.

You know what to do.

You always have.

All the answers are within.

Now you just need to ask the right questions.

“The answers are all out there, we just need to ask the right questions.” – Oscar Wilde

You can start a resolution any day.

No need to wait for the new year.

You are able to start over at any time.

Or stop doing something whenever.

You just need the “resolve” part of a resolution.

You can resolve to eat more healthily with the next meal.

You can resolve to start walking tomorrow.

Or even today.

You can resolve to read that book you’ve been meaning to get around to.

You can resolve to start a new habit.

Or stop a bad habit.

You can resolve to do anything at any time.

You just need the resolve to start.

“How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them.” – Benjamin Franklin

You are on the home straight.

There is not much left to do.

One final push and it will be done.

Then you can disconnect.

Unplug for a while.

Let go.

So you can connect with what matters … and be present.

How are you standing in the path of opportunity?

Take a risk.

Create a partnership.

Volunteer.

Be visible.

Pay attention.

Take the initiative.

Contribute.

Get clear on what you want.

Demonstrate your skill.

Join a group or association.

Go the extra mile.

Understand coming changes.

Network.

Lean in.

Start a project.

Be prepared.

Are the opportunities finding you?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

– Thomas Edison

What is your unique gift?

The thing that is undeniably you.

An ingrained capability.

An extraordinary skill.

An unusual aptitude.

An individual talent.

An exceptional ability

A specific proficiency.

A distinct strength.

A particular bent.

A special quality.

A certain knack.

This is the gift you bring.

To others.

To the world.

Share generously.

“The greatest gift is a portion of thyself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hearing happens.

Listening is a choice.

Hearing is sound.

Listening is skill.

Hearing requires presence.

Listening requires concentration.

Hearing is noise.

Listening is nuance.

Hearing is content.

Listening is context.

Hearing is passive.

Listening is active.

Hearing takes place.

Listening is intentional.

Hearing is subconscious

Listening is conscious.

Hearing perceives words.

Listening discerns meaning.