What’s your focus for 2024?

Like the moon, come out from behind the clouds! Shine!
— Gautama Buddha

As you may already know, I don’t subscribe to new year’s resolutions, but I do think it’s important to set a theme for each year, because it helps me to plot a course for the year ahead and welcome new experiences into my life. Last year, my theme was “love”, and this year, it’s “moon-shine”. I’ll probably return to this theme throughout the year, but really it’s all about wanting to be bright, bold, strong and powerful, whilst also acknowledging the seasonal, cyclical, nature of things, and allowing things to happen with ease.

Another thing I like to do each January is to spend some time thinking about where to focus my attention for the coming year. 

One of the ways I do this is by thinking of my life as a photograph, then asking myself,

  • Where is my current focus?

  • What’s in the frame?

  • What’s in the foreground, and what’s in the background?

  • What changes would I like to make to the picture?

Fortunately, we get to edit our own photos, and even if we can’t always decide what’s in the frame, we can choose where to focus our attention to help us act more intentionally

Last year was a big year for me; the foreground was dominated by getting my new book, Untangled, into the world, growing the business and making sure my daughter was settled at university. This was all positive change, but it also meant that looking after myself was one of the things that faded into the background. 

This year, I want to move self care back into the foreground, which I plan to do in four ways: 

  • Bringing more music into my life

  • Moving my body more

  • Making more meaningful connections

  • Practising mindfulness

I’ve already signed up to a musical theatre fitness class at the gym, so I’m off to a strong start!

Think about what your theme might be for 2024, and which elements of your life you want to move into the foreground, then spend some time focusing your attention on how you’re going to make that happen.

Kirsty Maynor

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kirsty Maynor is a sought-after experienced leadership and executive coach, and successful entrepreneur.

She’s received multiple awards, including the Fellowship of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce. She’s also a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, a Professional Certified Coach and a Dare to Lead™ Certified Facilitator.

She’s dedicated her professional life to helping others grow, learn, and realise their potential. Through her business, The Firefly Group, she’s delivered cutting edge development to senior leaders of the NHS, Sky, Skyscanner, JP Morgan and Scottish Government.

...and she never believed it was possible.

She wants to teach you how to accomplish the impossible too.

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