By Claire Maquet, LCPC
Wow, is it January already? I feel like we just celebrated the 4th of July! As we know, time really does go fast and with our fast-paced, hectic lives the time seems to fly by. As I prepare for the new year, I have decided not to make New Year’s Resolutions. A lot of the time, the goals don’t get met and don’t seem very meaningful as the new year goes on. I do, however, want to think about ways I can make 2015 a great year.
I heard a speaker not too long ago talk about a program that she is trying to start in the schools to help kids reach their full potential. Heather Robertson, one of Central Illinois’ most prominent speakers and student motivators, has developed a program called Flight School — We are All Meant to Fly. Flight School is an approach to building relationships based on the premise that all people have a unique, innate greatness that is different than any other person. By having conversations on the ten topics of her program, the kids learn to discover the innate greatness within others and within themselves. So I wondered if I could apply this to myself in my quest for a better new year.
The Five Core Competencies that Ms. Robertson feels we need in order to be better people are:
- Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s emotions and values as well as one’s strengths and limitations
- Self-management: Managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one’s goals
- Social awareness: Showing understanding and empathy for others
- Relationship skills: Forming positive relationships, working in teams, and dealing directly with conflict
- Responsible decision making: Making ethical, constructive choices about personal and social behavior
In order to develop these skills or competencies, we may need to consider and reflect on how we are doing in these areas currently and how we want to be in the new year. Ms. Robertson suggests ten things to think and question yourself about that contribute to developing these important core skills.
- Energy: Where do I spend my energy and what is the difference between positive and negative energy?
- Mind: How do I think about myself and others? How do I resolve conflicts with others?
- Knowledge: What is the knowledge that I seek and what is the knowledge that I shy away from?
- Truth: Do I have an awareness of the ideas that shape my life and the lives of others?
- Soul: What are my passions and dreams? Can I identify and manage my own emotions and behavior in healthy ways?
- Love: How do I treat people I love?
- Compassion: How do I take action to solve the problems in the world around me?
- Fellowship: How do I treat my friends and how do I build new relationships?
- Confidence: Do I have an image of myself based on my own innate greatness and how can I continue to grow it?
- Movement: What do I want to move toward and what goals can I set to achieve this journey?
This year consider setting goals that are meaningful to you. Whether it’s putting your energy into new things, improving your assertiveness, or creating more self confidence. Any step toward health, happiness, and better relationships is likely to improve your family, your community, and the world. May we all discover the innate greatness in ourselves and each other in the new year.
We, at True North Solutions, wish you a happy and healthy 2015.
If you are in need of counseling, you can call True North Solutions at 309-589-1011 or visit www.truenorthsolutions.org. If you are a member of LinkedIn, visit Heather Robertson, Flight School developer, or you can find her on Twitter.
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