12 Things You Should Do In 2022 For Yourself and Others

1. Journal take time to write down your thoughts, feelings, impressions, and ideas about your life, experiences, something you have read, your daily devotion, something you learned today, the wisdom you have gleaned from others. Take time to write, either by hand in a printed journal or online in a digital journal. Ask yourself difficult questions about yourself. You don’t ever have to share what you have journaled about with others, but you may gain some profound insights for yourself. In addition, it can become a peep into your life and thoughts for your children and grandchildren once they are no longer able to share.

2. Increase your vocabulary: learn at least one new word every week. Learn the word, write in a sentence and incorporate it in a conversation. Keep the words simple, look up antonyms and synonyms for words you already know to expand your ability to express the same idea in different ways.

3. Call five people each week that you would not usually call. Maybe a family member, a friend you’ve lost touch with, a church member, or be creative. You don’t have to get into a long conversation with them. Just tell them that they came across your mind and wanted to catch up with them. Keep your conversation simple and short, but demonstrate genuine concern and interest in them.

4. Speak to 5 people that you don’t know each day. A simple “hello” will be enough. You may find a new friend that will enrich your life and relationships. Say “Hello” regardless of whether they respond or not. Remember to smile and be sincere.

5 Practice smiling in the mirror and see what others see, then smile. Practicing your smile may seem odd, but smiling opens more doors than a frown, a scowl, or an emotionless expression. Learn to keep a slight smile on your face at all times.

Place a mirror next to the door you most frequently exit to check your expression before you go out to meet the world.

6. Read your Bible daily. If you don’t have the habit of reading your Bible, start small. First, get a translation that is easy to read and understand. Choose one of the following translations of the Bible, The New International Version (NIV), The New Living Translation (NLT), Today's English Version (Good News Bible, TEV). Second, start in the Proverbs. Here you will find life lessons and principles that can make your life better by using them.

7. Each day take a five-minute sanity break. Ask your family to give you 10 minutes to unwind before engaging them. Get somewhere comfortable, like an easy chair. Place your feet flat on the floor and your hands palms down on your legs or on the arms of the chair. Close your eyes, and if you can, make the room dark. Relax and breathe in through your nose, hold your breath for 5 seconds and slowly exhale through your mouth, forming an “O” with your lips as you breathe out.

8. Find a mindless activity to decompress. If you have a tablet, download a game that is low stress, or download some smooth jazz, classical music. Find some activity that does not stress you out to do but gives you some joy from doing it.

9. Learn one new recipe each month and prepare it. We spend a lot of time eating. Take some time to cook with your partner, children, or friends. Make it a special time for connection. Don’t worry if the recipe doesn’t look like or taste like you thought it should; enjoy the experience, especially if it brings you, your children, partner, or friends closer together. You’ll laugh about it later.

10. Silence your negative self-talk. When you catch yourself speaking negatively to yourself about yourself, consciously stop and say out loud, “No, That is Not Me! I am and speak positively about yourself. It may not be the complete truth, but it is the expected future. Speak the new you into existence.

11. Learn to make intelligent decisions in a timely manner. It has been suggested that most people only make two significant decisions each year. Resolve to make decisions after the facts are known and learn to stop second-guessing yourself. Once you have examined the facts, you can make an intelligent decision. Remember that “No” is just as intelligent and a good decision as “Yes” once you have reviewed the facts.

For example, you want a new 65” 4K Smart T.V., it costs $2,500.00. Do you really need it? Will it enhance your viewing experience? Does your T.V. provider have the ability to broadcast in 4K definition? Do you have the appropriate space to place the T.V. if purchased?