Farewell 2020: Welcome in Joy for 2021!

In November 2020 I find myself drawn, seduced even, by the idea that I can design my way out of the year that has just been. 2020 has been full of challenges from the global to the deeply personal and everything in between. In my response to that I’ve asked myself the question, “What do I want in 2021?”

The truth is that I can’t answer that question. I’ve come to realise that the lesson for me of 2020 is that I have to learn to let go. I can’t control everything. In fact, I control almost nothing! Yet, as I reflect on that it doesn’t scare me, it’s almost a relief, giving me permission to let go.

I was listening to Brian Eno on James Shaw’s podcast yesterday. He was talking about the messiness of life and the movement in the arts that draws on this idea. His key message was that we need to be OK with letting things emerge. At best, we can create conditions for good things to happen, but we can’t design them and simply bring them into being.

This message resonated with me really deeply. I love the humble nature of the idea and how it creates space for others to contribute, providing an inclusive, creative environment that leads to better, wiser choices. What if more of our experiences in work and life reflected this idea? What kind of leaders would we have in business, politics and in our communities? It seems this idea can serve us well as we look ahead in these uncertain times.

So, for 2021, I am letting go of goal setting. Instead I am focusing on creating the conditions that bring out the best in me and the people I connect with. The word that comes to my mind is joy. If I can create more moments of joy, then the conditions will be set for great things to happen.

So, what conditions are you setting for 2021 to let good things emerge?