Reflecting on What Drives You as the New Year Approaches

As we prepare to enter a new year, it’s important to pause and reflect on where we are in our personal and professional lives. Are you working to make a difference?

Are you driven to make a difference? Or are you making a difference at all? Do you want to? Or are you simply working to make ends meet?

They are meaningful questions, each with its own importance. However, no one has a right or wrong answer. Life’s demands are varied, as are the motivations that move us. Taking time to explore these questions can provide clarity and purpose as we look to the year ahead.

Working to make a difference

If you’re working to make a difference, you’re likely driven by a desire to contribute positively to the world around you. Whether it’s within your community, your workplace, or your personal relationships, striving to make an impact often brings a sense of accomplishment. However, it is useful to ask whether your efforts are aligned with your values ​​and long-term aspirations. Are you directing your energy in ways that truly work for you? Thinking about this can help ensure your business remains purposeful and sustainable.

To be driven to make a difference

Feeling motivated to make a difference is a powerful force that drives us forward. It represents a vision of what could be, providing the motivation to take action. However, passion and drive alone are not enough; They require guidance. The question then becomes: Do you translate your motivation into tangible actions? Taking the time to evaluate how to turn your motivations into actionable steps can turn aspirations into accomplishments.

When you’re not sure if you’re making a difference

What if you feel like you’re not making a difference, or that your efforts don’t matter? The demands of everyday life may not leave much room for greater ambitions. This is a reality for many, and it is absolutely true. Meeting life’s basic needs is an accomplishment in itself, especially during difficult times. However, if you feel like doing more, the new year offers an opportunity to start small. Making a difference doesn’t have to mean big gestures; Often, the smallest actions can create the most significant ripples.

Work to meet their needs

For those who are simply working to make ends meet, remember that surviving and providing for yourself and your family are honorable and vital endeavors. The expectation to be motivated by a greater goal can sometimes be exhausting when you’re focused on achieving it. However, even in ordinary life, there may be opportunities to find meaning – whether through acts of kindness, connecting with others, or taking pride in your daily efforts.

Looking forward to the new year

As we approach the new year, these questions are not meant to judge or categorize, but rather to encourage self-awareness. Understanding where you stand now can help you think about where you want to go next. Whether your goal is to create profound change or focus on small, meaningful changes, it all starts with intention.

Take this time to set achievable goals that align with your current circumstances and aspirations. What will be your next step? Whatever your answers are, let them guide you toward a year filled with purpose, growth, and self-discovery.


Carol Spiers

Carol is CEO of a leading stress management and wellbeing consultancy in the UK. She is a guest presenter at the BBC and author of Show Stress Who’s Boss! Carol is an international motivational speaker and is regularly called upon by the national press and media for commentary. She is President of the International Stress Management Association (UK), founder of Stress Awareness Day, and a Fellow and Past President of the Professional Speakers Society of London. www.carolespiers.co.uk

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