While I’m sitting here at the doctor’s office thinking about my goals, one of them is to get my annual skin screening – just to catch anything early.

Want to work on your wellness—mind, body, and soul? You have to start somewhere. Get your wellness checks. Get your health in order. Fellowship with other people of faith. Get around people who energize you. Get in shape. Hike. Work out. Set a plan and stick to it.

I’ve heard this idea in so many ways, so maybe this is the year it finally sticks. Change usually needs a little of what is good—think a spoonful of sugar—plus a bit of carrot and stick.

It helps to spend time with like-minded people, or with those who are already moving in the direction you want to grow. Being around the right people can quietly shape how we think and what we believe is possible.Steward well whatever you have been given, and do it with excellence. Increase often follows when we are doing what we love or when we consistently show up in our gifting. Comparing yourself to what others have will only keep you stuck and frustrated.

Change how you see change, and you can change the year ahead.

Have you ever noticed that one friend or family member who always seems to get the extra helping at restaurants? Like Teppanyaki or habachi a win looks like getting the extra shrimp, rice, and veggies.

Or maybe you are the person who seems to have instant favor and makes connections effortlessly. Chances are, they are operating in their gifting, and their confidence and charisma naturally show up.

Maybe your strength is spotting problems and creating solutions. That is a gift. The shift happens when you show up with options and opportunities instead of only pointing out what is wrong.

If you see something in someone you admire, get curious. Learn what they figured out and start practicing it yourself.

If you set goals, stick to them. Be a person of your word. When you mean no, say no. It’s not cruel—it’s living intentionally. When you set goals and keep them, treat yourself. Getting your finances in order takes accountability and consistency. Get a financial advisor, a savings plan, and an investing plan. No one is going to do it for you.

Gifts are meant to be shared, not buried. If you have the gift of teaching, equipping, or mentoring, continue to share that with others. Since I enjoy encouraging others and sharing what I’m learning, which often takes the form of writing or one-on-one conversations, I plan to do more of that.