Make 2023 Your Year To Tune In, Move Up & Achieve More!

by Renowned Beverly Hills Manners Expert Lisa Gaché

It happens the same time every year, the last week of December arrives and looming thoughts of how we are going to approach the next 365 days begin to consume our minds. How can we initiate a better exercise regimen to take off those extra pounds? How do we alleviate ourselves of rising debt to put money aside for our future? How can we administrate our time more effectively so that we’re not so stressed and overwhelmed day in and day out? These and other weighty questions take up residence in our brains as we prepare to usher in a more hopeful 2023.

Resolutions, as they are popularly known, are a great inspiration for lighting a fire under our behinds and starting the New Year off on the right foot. While we know how important it is to take stock of our health and finances (and certainly our stress!), we believe there’s always extra room for personal improvement particularly when it comes to our soft skills including manners. These are fundamental and outweigh all other factors when it comes to personal and professional success in life. So while you’re on the treadmill dreaming up ways to make a truly positive difference this year, try on our top 5 tips to help you tune in, move up, and achieve more these next twelve months. We promise, you’ll be happy you did!

#1 Strengthen Your Character. Think about the traits you value most in a friend, work colleague, romantic partner. Positive attributes naturally come to mind. We are inherently drawn to those who are dependable, committed, genuine, trustworthy, and generous. No one seeks out a flake who lies and cheats. We’re also much more comfortable around those who are disciplined, act professionally, and possess a bit of humility. A new year is an excellent time to take stock and rid ourselves of anything unwanted. Do an internal investigation to determine which of the above qualities you effortlessly exhibit and which you’d like to incorporate and focus on this next year.

#2 Improve Everyday Communication. Words have tremendous power regardless of whether we share them verbally, electronically or written. Choose to be more conscious of what you say and how you say it – tone matters. This new year try to eliminate (or at least reduce) toxic talk including idle gossip, judgements, and negativity. Be more grateful and complain less. Take responsibility rather than making excuses and placing blame. Speak nicely and respectfully to everyone. Say hello to passersby and remember to smile. These small courtesies go a very long way and have a ripple effect that can last forever.

#3 Stay More Flexible. These last nine months have made us more resilient and taught us how to stay more flexible in order to survive. Without warning, we’ve all had to adapt and learn to make the best of turbulent times. Our ability to roll with the punches will remain particularly important as we continue to navigate the new landscape we now live in. This new year, flexibility of mind is equally valuable and this is expressed in our level of tolerance, curiosity, and calm. The more patient and open-minded we appear, the more growth we’ll begin to witness in our personal affairs as well as in our professional affiliations.

#4 Strive for Balance. At a time when we’ve been inundated by increasing hardship, turmoil, and negativity, it is to our advantage to be even keeled and extra kind. Anyone who can spread positive reinforcement in the world will be highly valued. Make a conscious choice to spread joy rather than perpetuate fear and hatred. If we can balance being more sensitive and civil with a lightness and sense of humor, the New Year will feel a lot less heavy and much more hopeful.

#5 Cultivate Meaningful Connections. The quality of our lives has everything to do with the quality of our relationships. As we enter this new year with a COVID vaccine and a reopening of the country on the horizon, cultivating our current relationships and creating new meaningful connections will be paramount. We need one another now more than ever while we’re socially distant and we’ll rely on each other even greater when we reconnect in person. If we don’t build up these muscles now and start endearing ourselves to family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and the community at large, we’ll remain alone and isolated which will feel far worse than any virus. Exercise your social skills, keep your relationships in good stead, and seize every opportunity to bond with others in any way possible.

Founder and CEO of Beverly Hills Manners, Lisa Gaché is a nationally recognized etiquette coach and lifestyle expert. She provides practical modern day solutions and helps clients use the power of social intelligence to enhance their lives, both personally and professionally.

Featured on national television (The Today Show, Access Hollywood, Dr. Phil) and in print media (USA Today, New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, The Telegraph), Ms. Gaché received her certification as a Corporate Etiquette and International Protocol Consultant from The Protocol School of Washington along with a mark of distinction from The English Manner in London.

Lisa’s book, Beverly Hills Manners: Golden Rules from the World’s Most Glamorous Zip Code, published November 2014, is the go-to-guide for parents and Saudi princesses, NFL coaches and Oscar nominees. She is currently working on big vision to bring these crucial life tools and social change to the world. For further information, please contact www.beverlyhillsmanners.com.

SUBSCRIBE NOW TO PALOS VERDES PULSE