The year 2022: The year of your continued development and growth.

In the past years you have done many wonderful things. Whether you believe it or not, you have achievements after your name. Equally important, the past years brought about many disappointments, setbacks, and misery. Depending on who looks at it, some may argue that the majority of setbacks occurred in the past two years (2020 and 2021). Whatever happened forms part of our very important history. The bad thing is that we cannot go back in history and rectify it. The good thing is that as an individual, you can take charge of your future, plan better, and design the future that you want. You cannot further postpone the process of designing the future that you want. The process begins now! That is why the year 2022 is quite an important present for the future that you want. The year 2022 presents you with an opportunity to decide what you want.

The year 2022 is extremely important for your personal, professional and spiritual growth and development. For this to happen, there are many things that you need to do differently. Approach the year 2022 with a growth and abundance mindset. Approach the year 2022 with the mindset that acknowledges that your potential is unlimited. You do not know your potential. No one does. Even though I may not know you personally, I know that your potential is much bigger than all your past achievements combined. Your potential to rise and conquer setback is massive. The ability to rise again is embedded in you. All that you need to do is acknowledge and declare it! Your ability to do better than any of your past achievements is in your DNA. What will it take you to rise again? What will it take you to move towards the future that you want? Well, let me be very clear. To begin with, it will take a lot of effort and work from your side. It will require you to let go of certain habits. It will require you to let go of certain relationships. It will require you to develop new habits. It many require you to embrace new relationships. In short, it will take work, thoughtfulness, and careful consideration. It boils down to leadership. Self leadership to be precise!

The bad habits that you will need to let go include:

Poor time management. The cloak never goes back. You have to shed the habit of wasting time with unnecessary chores. Stop wasting time on gossip, hate, and harboring grudges and resentment.

Self-obsession. If your aim is to become a better person, you need to shed the habit of thinking that everything that is uttered is directed at you. You need to stop the false belief that everyone hates you. You need to be humble enough to acknowledge that you are not so important that the world is talking about you all the time. The world has no reason to hate you.

Negative attitude. For you to move towards the future that you envisage, you need to shed your negative attitude. Do not be cynical about everything. The world does not owe you anything. Your negative attitude has not helped you in the past. It is not going to help you now or in future. Stop it!

Constantly complaining, moaning and gowning. This habit will not help you move towards a future that you want. Shed it now! By constantly complaining and blaming everyone else, you are not going to solve any problem. It is just a waste of time.

Blaming others for your failures and weaknesses. We all have weaknesses and we need to acknowledge them. We all experience failure at some point in our lives. Get rid of the habit of blaming others for your own failures and weaknesses. Stop blaming others for your decisions and choices.

The relationships that you may need to let go include:

Toxic relationships. These relationships are not good for your health and certainly not good for your progress, goals and development. Do not be part of relationships that involve gossip, resentment, and hate. You have better things to do.

Relationships that are pulling you down. Stop sabotaging yourself by staying in relationships that abuse you physically and emotionally. Stop being involved in relationships that undermine you and your self-worth. Do not believe the myth that you can change others. Spend time time changing yourself and praying for those that you wish that they may change.

For you to grow, develop and move towards the future that you want you need to develop new habits. You need to embrace new supportive and positive relationships.

Develop new habits. Develop the habit of respecting time and people. If you respect time, you respect yourself and you respect those around you. Instead of being self-obsessed, develop a habit of gratitude and thanksgiving. Acknowledge the good in other people. Develop a positive mindset. The habit of taking responsibility and accountability must form part of your new set of habits. Forgiveness must be part of what defines you and your habits. Develop a habit of embracing love. Start by loving yourself and acknowledge your self-worth. You have much to offer on this plane earth. Develop a habit of exercising acts of kindness. Remember that you reap what you sow. Embrace forgiveness. Apologize where you have erred. Develop a habit of taking responsibility and accountability. Everything that you say and do is a statement about you. Make if your mission to display positive statements.

Embrace new relationships. Expand your horizon. Embrace relationships that add value to you. Find mentors and coaches that will support your growth and development. Find people that will help you become a better version of yourself. Find people that will challenge you, help you to stretch your imagination, and stretch you. Find relationships that will support your personal, professional, and spiritual development.

Your personal, professional, and spiritual growth will not have passively. It requires you to do a lot of work. The good news is that it is work that you can do. The work that you need to do is not an impossible task. Go ahead and start working on you. Your are capable. You have the potential. All your past achievements are nothing compared to the potential that you have. It does not matter how old you or how young you are.

Dr Sibongiseni Myeni is a Director at the Institute for Leadership and Research. He is a Leadership Specialist and an Entrepreneur. His mission is to add value to others.