How to Flip Your Script in 2023

The New Year is a new chapter in all our stories, and turning that page often feels like a fresh start. Over the past two-plus years, I’ve learned a thing or two about fresh starts from more than 100 guests who have shared their stories on my podcast, Flip Your Script. We started the podcast during the pandemic as a way to share inspiring stories about embracing life’s critical turning points. Hearing the guests’ stories continues to positively impact and enrich my mental health and my life. I’ve learned so much from every interview about being brave and finding the motivation to change your unique story.?

Over the past year, I’ve asked some guests what it takes to keep resolutions and make life changes. Their experiences and challenges had a few common themes we all can learn from as we approach this new chapter and determine how to write our stories in 2023.?

Set Your Goals?

You can’t accomplish your goals if you don’t set them first. Maybe it starts by looking at the big-picture goal and approaching it in small increments as Chaz Sandifer recommends in her episode, “From Domestic Abuse Survivor to Health and Wellness CEO.” Chaz said, “Is there a big dream you have? What's the first step?”?

Chef Gavin Kaysen writes goals in three different categories: health and wellness, professional and personal. As a business owner, each category is important for his success, but he doesn’t just internalize them, he publicizes them with his team. “A couple of weeks ago I sat down with everybody. I said, ‘I want you to think of your goals and I want you to talk to me about them,’ and everybody that's come to me to tell me their goals, I'm happy to tell them all of mine.”?

It’s important to set your goals, but don’t be afraid to change them. “Life is not a straight line and neither are your goals, so you know you might get bumped off (course) here and there, but you’ve got to continue to keep going after it,” Gavin said.

Never Stop Learning?

I have always been a big proponent of continuous learning. It’s why my stack of books gets bigger every year. Learning is also something many of our guests agreed is crucial. Media Minefield’s Senior Social Media Coach Sidney Barnette shared her story about growing up with two moms in her episode, “From Unconventional Childhood to Sharing Family Pride.” She also shared a challenge for others. “What is something you don’t understand or don’t know about, and how could you learn more? How could you learn more by learning someone’s story, whether it’s a movie, book, podcast or having a conversation with someone?”

It helps to have an accountability partner on your learning journey and be open to feedback. Dr. Stanley Andrisse said, “Find somebody that's not just going to be gentle to you and say, ‘Well okay you didn't do it this week but you know next week you could do it.’” Dr. Andrisse told me your accountability partner should be a relationship that pushes you to reach the goal or change you seek.

No matter who you are or where you are in life, there is always something to learn. As William W. Burroughs said, “When you stop growing, you start dying.”?

Embrace Everything With Gratitude?

After the last few years of challenges, a consistent message from many of our guests was that whatever you’re facing, showing gratitude can make a difference.?

“Is there a mindset change you can make to help you be more positive?” That’s how Jack Jablonski dealt with a life-changing hockey injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. He’s now making a difference for others through the Jack Jablonski Foundation advancing treatments for paralysis recovery.

Viewing challenges with a new perspective helped veteran John Kriesel as well, and he believes everyone can make an attitude change. “I want people to be able to look at whatever adversity they're going through and focus on the point of having a positive attitude, a sense of humor. If it got me through what it got me through, then absolutely, it can get anybody through anything.”

Or maybe, it’s just embracing the ordinary. That’s the advice Chey Eisenman’s mom gave her. It’s maybe no surprise that Chey’s episode is the most downloaded one we’ve ever released. And many people have told me the powerful advice Chey’s mom gave her was helpful in their own struggles. “... She said, ‘Perhaps an ordinary life with a few extraordinary moments would be easier than an extraordinary life with no ordinary moments.’”?

These folks are an amazing reminder, you’re capable of more than you think. As we approach 2023, note where you are and where you want to be at the end of the year. If you don’t make a change in your life, even if it’s small, you’ll end the year in the same place as you started it. Don’t let fear hold you back. Bravely take small steps forward to take those big risks. By setting your goals, continuously learning and embracing 2023 with gratitude, you can make progress one chapter at a time.?

Listen to the end-of-the-year special Flip Your Script episode on December 27 wherever you get your podcasts to hear themes, insights and powerful quotes from these and other inspirational guests.?