While this is the time when people tend to make resolutions having to do with specific habits or behaviors, I think that this is a particularly good time to look at whether you are maximizing your potential and sharing your awesomeness with the world by being involved with your community. That community may include your religious, political, service, school, professional society, or other organization.
One of the easiest things to do is to complain about what’s wrong in the world, including that part of the world that’s closest to you – the community in which you reside or belong to by virtue of membership. The reality is, however, that decisions that affect you are regularly made by other people who have chosen to become involved.
Admittedly, some political units and other organizations tend to be run by a self-perpetuating leadership group that may not be too welcoming of new blood, but that shouldn’t deter you if a structure is in place to permit greater involvement.
The basic place to start is by voting for the leaders that you want. Political elections are often decided by a minority of citizens who show up to vote, and many organizational elections aren’t much better. Aside from the act of voting, becoming educated about the candidates increases the likelihood of being more of a participant than a spectator.
Some people are so used to sitting on the sidelines of the organizations to which they belong that they don’t even think of seeking greater involvement and contributing their uniqueness and awesomeness to making their community and the world a better place. If that describes you, that really calls for a mindset change. Recognizing that what you have to offer to others is both a benefit to the greater good as well as putting you in touch with your specialness on a regular basis. It also increases your degree of connectedness which is a true index of mental health.
If you’re the kind of person who let’s others take the lead and make the decisions, make this the year when you change that pattern. Becoming more involved will be both better for you and better for society.