As another New Year begins, we find ourselves reflecting on resolutions—those grand promises we make to live better, healthier, and more fulfilled lives. Let’s be honest: most resolutions fail. They dissolve within weeks or months, leaving us feeling discouraged and no closer to the life we imagined.
This year, I am inviting you to consider a resolution that transcends fleeting goals: Quit the crazy. This is less about adding more to your to-do list; it is about simplifying, realigning, and stepping off the hamster wheel of chaos. Quitting the crazy is the ultimate reset, and it just might be the key to clarity, joy, and living your purpose.
So, what does it mean to “quit the crazy”? It is a multifaceted approach to life that starts within and radiates outward to your relationships, commitments, and overall lifestyle. Let us break this concept down into actionable steps to guide you on this transformative journey.
1. Stop the Self-Sabotage
The first step to quitting the crazy begins with you. Take a moment to look in the mirror and ask yourself: What thoughts, habits, behaviors and old stories are holding me back?
Often, we sabotage our own growth through negative self-talk, self-doubt, or outdated patterns that no longer serve us. These internal battles create chaos that spills into every area of our lives.
Action Step: Identify one harmful thought, story you keep telling yourself or habit and replace it with something empowering. For example, instead of saying, “I lack the expertise to take on that new dream role.,” practice affirmations like, “I am capable, I have the toolkit necessary and deserve this role.” Small, consistent changes in how you think and act will have a profound ripple effect and one that transcends beyond your own life.
2. Reevaluate Relationships
Our relationships can either uplift and energize or drain us. Quitting the crazy often means reassessing who you allow into your life and how much access they have to your energy. Are there people who consistently bring negativity, drama, or toxicity into your world? Trying to fix, defend against, or please these individuals only keeps you stuck in a cycle of frustration.
Action Step: Set boundaries with energy-draining people. This might mean limiting contact, saying no to unnecessary interactions, or even lovingly distancing yourself. Remember, protecting your peace is not selfish—it is essential.
3. Simplify Your Commitments
How often do we say yes to things out of obligation rather than genuine desire? Overcommitting to tasks, projects, or roles that are misaligned with your values creates unnecessary chaos. Whether it is work responsibilities, social engagements, or community obligations, it is time to let go of what no longer serves you. Keep in mind that our ego feels that we need to say yes to make it in this world. We feel important when we are busy. However, many obligations produce few results. Be selective, pick according to your own life blueprint. Decide: does this event, job, committee, meeting, etc. align with my own path?
Action Step: Review your commitments and identify one thing you can stop doing. This may mean stepping back from a committee, declining a recurring event, or delegating more tasks at work. Freeing up your time and energy allows you to focus on what truly matters. Ask yourself: “Do I really NEED to do this to be successful, be loved, take the next leap?” My clients have discovered time freedom when discerning where to cut 50% more of their so called obligations.
4. Align with Your Authentic Path
Much of the crazy we experience comes from chasing goals or living a life that is not aligned with who we truly are. Many are pondering bigger questions: “What is my soul roadmap or blueprint for this lifetime?” “What do I really want to contribute?” You may be in a career that does not inspire you, pursuing achievements that do not resonate, or competing with others in ways that feel empty and completing energy draining.
Action Step: Take inventory of your current goals and life paths. Ask yourself: Are these truly mine, or am I pursuing them because of external expectations? If something feels out of alignment, give yourself permission to pivot. True fulfillment comes from walking the path that is uniquely yours. It is 100% possible to find this path. My clients do all the time!
5. Create Space for Renewal
Finally, quitting the crazy means carving out time and space to breathe, reflect, and renew. In our fast-paced world, rest often feels like a luxury, but it is a necessity for living a balanced, purposeful life. When you slow down, you create room for clarity, inspiration, and joy to flow in.
Action Step: Schedule regular moments of stillness into your life. This could be a daily meditation, a weekly nature walk, or simply unplugging from technology for an hour. Most importantly, start your day with a morning routine that avoids technology for the first hour. Sit with the question: “What do I need to know today?” The answers are mind-bending. Protect this time fiercely—it is an investment in your well-being.
A Life Transformed by Simplicity
Quitting the crazy is not about perfection; it is about progress. When you commit to letting go of internal chaos, toxic relationships, unnecessary obligations, misaligned goals, and the constant rush of modern life, you open yourself up to something incredible: clarity, ease, happiness, time freedom and joy. Many busy and exhausted leaders are now even more successful AND have more time for life outside of the hustle.
As you step into this New Year, consider making this your top resolution. Quit the crazy, and watch as opportunities unfold, your energy soars, and you reconnect with the vibrant, authentic life you were meant to live.
I wish you a year of simplicity, alignment, even more successful ventures and flourishing—one step at a time.