2022: Striving Towards ‘Beautiful Inconsequence’

Some one asked me recently if I journaled. No, I don’t. I used to but found no value in it. And years later, reading the passages written long ago, I realized they provided no great clarification to what was bothering me then-or now.

Someone asked me recently if I set goals every New Year. No, I answered. Mostly I think about making decisions based on not having regrets.

Truthfully, setting goals at New Years was never a practice I fully adopted. I often felt the need to set mini-goals all year long so the idea of waiting till January just didn't work for me.

So instead, I set micro-goals all year long, which sometimes I accomplish and sometimes I don't. Sometimes setting goals make me feel purposeful, but sometimes just the opposite happens: sometimes I feel a slight bit of let-down if I set a goal and then fail to attack it with zeal.

So this year I’m striving to accomplish things that are, seemingly, ‘beautifully inconsequential,’ to borrow a turn-of-phrase from The Atlantic writer, Faith Hill.

What are things that are beautifully inconsequential? Deepening friendships, knitting a scarf for the first time, plowing through books, taking a longer-than-I-think-doable-for-a-Tuesday walk…

None of these things get written about in the Harvard Business Review, nor dare I say, on LinkedIn. But perhaps the pandemic gives us the opportunity to reflect and slow down, and to consider the sizable contribution these small acts of self-gratitude have on one’s daily life.

After all, a popular and oft-repeated refrain of business leaders is to have a ‘work-life’ balance. And what actually creates balance? Engaging in small acts of minor joy, like cuddling with my three dogs while watching Netflix.

And given how murky 2022 looks regarding Covid-19, it seems a bit of a fool’s errand to strive for too much advancement in the domains of career and goal setting.

However, some readers will not tolerate a ‘less deliberate’ set of goals and to them I tip my hat—go forth and achieve, accomplish and strive. Effort, energy and enthusiasm are the ingredients to those striving for a jam-packed year as well as for those strolling towards a relaxed calendar.

For me, this year, I will strive for daily practices that are beautifully inconsequential and deeply, deeply fulfilling.

Selected Quote from the article, Resolutions Are Not The Vibe for 2022, The Atlantic

“I grew even closer to my best friends, shivering through long conversations in triple-layered socks when we still couldn’t meet inside; the weather got warmer; I got vaccinated; I read some beautiful poetry. These aren’t accomplishments—they’re more like gratitudes, or bright points, or road signs for my future self to follow. They remind me that my life can be beautifully inconsequential, and the things that make me most human are not particularly unique or impressive.”

About the author: Julie Kliger is recognized by LinkedIn as a "Top Voice" in Health Care in 2015 & 2016, & 2017. She is a Healthcare ‘Strategic Realist’ who is passionate about improving health care and improving lives. She specializes in future-oriented healthcare redesign, translating bio/med-tech into legacy industries, implementing new care models and strategic change management.?She is an adviser, clinician, health system board member, speaker and author.?

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