There is something so hopeful about starting a new year. New possibilities, new plans, new dreams.

In our districts and schools, we are looking at our goals and monitoring where we are in the journey to reach them. We are looking to the finish line. And just as we begin to see the flags of the line, we are asked to plan for a new year – plans, goals, budgets. The cycle never ends. Many times, it can even distract from all the wins we are having in the year.

We all know we have little opportunity to change a system and one thing we do know is the only thing we have the power to change and influence is ourselves. Our work is hard, demanding, overwhelming and enormously fulfilling as we grow people, change lives and influence collaboration and lifelong relationships.

Pete Zafra is a personal development blogger whose goal is to inspire as he teaches. Recently his blog caught my attention as I love to compare my best habits to other professionals. His latest blog offers to us eleven habits for having a complete and successful life. I’d love to share some of my take aways as we begin this new year. My hope is that some of his habits will inspire us together.

Zafra studies successful people – people who are successful in their internal and external world. They are people who live with inner peace and outer joy and fulfilment. I bet we all want that. So, let’s look together at the habits and see if there are some we might model in our life – to live more completely – as we begin this new year.

Habit 1: Work on your Mindset

Just recently in a conversation with my partners in RCG, we spoke of the critical importance in being a coach-leader, which is having a coach mindset. We even taught about mindset long before it became a coaching competency. Zafra offers that the quality of our life is determined by the quality of our thoughts – and that how we see and feel about life will ultimately shape how we live and experience it. The concept of mindset came later in my career as a district administrator learning the 80/20 rule – another equation: In order to succeed at anything, it takes 20% hard work and 80% mindset. That’s why professional learning is so important for everyone. We must feed our brain with quality information, nourishing and strengthening our brains to make our dreams and goals happen!

Habit 2: Be Grateful

We’ve all heard the expression, “You never know what you’ve lost until it’s gone.” It applies to everyone. It’s not just November when we think about gratitude, we have to live it and show it all year long.

Habit 3: Take care of your body

Our bodies are the machines that get things done for us. If we don’t take care of them, we do harm to our life and to the lives of others. Taking care of our body is our most valuable asset. I don’t think I have ever thought of it in this way! What a message to self! Get sleep, eat balanced meals, move! Let’s keep our bodies in good working condition.

Habit 4: Give respect

Respect of others is your superpower. It’s essential in all our relationships and how we view all people. When you respect others there is a subconscious message they receive. Even people whose beliefs don’t align, it doesn’t matter. People matter, and all people want respect.

Habit 5: Don’t gossip

As leaders we all know the destructive impact of gossip. Gossip hurts, shatters, and even destroys others. One who gossips get a reputation that is hard to lose. Respect all people. We are educators – we are role models all day long. A great responsibility.

Habit 6: Remind yourself of your goals

Now this is about you, so not all those work goals, rather your goals for you. Write things down. This is a big one. When I first did this in a workshop, I was thinking about what future role I wanted in education. I wrote down a big dream. I was so shocked that within two years that dream had come true. In our Strategies for Leading webinar, we spend time thinking about our goals in all aspects of our lives; family, financial, work, relationships, spiritual. It’s so fun to hear all the stories of discovery and success.

Let’s just stop here and reflect and think about some of these habits. In a few weeks, I will share more of Zafra’s habits for us to consider. It is a new year, and anything is possible.

Can’t wait to share more habits next time!