It’s the beginning of a new year, a time that always feels fresh and new and full of optimism for the year ahead. Maybe you’re someone who resolved to read more, look at your phone less, exercise more, eat less junk food, or the #1 of course, lose weight.

However, let’s not destroy our glass half-full outlook on 2015 by making these tough to keep promises to ourselves and buying into the whole New Year, New You movement. Instead let’s try a new way to resolve our vices that is a bit more human and one that truly puts us in control of how we live our lives that will ultimately get us to where we want to be personally and professionally, New Year, Be You! We only get one life; we should enjoy it and be true to ourselves. If we aren’t where we want to be then it is up to us to make that happen – we are in the driver’s seat of our lives and in control of our career destinies.

What we do today becomes our tomorrow and if we really want something let’s get it! Little changes add up over time so here are 5 things that we can do in 2015 that will not change who we are at the core, but will help us to develop and grow:

1. Be a better listener – This is crucial for our personal and professional lives. When meeting new people sometimes we are so focused on what we’re going to say next that we don’t listen to what the person is currently saying to us. Let’s be more in the moment and be truly interested in what the other person is saying, this helps to form better more trusting relationships.
2. Find the silver lining – Not everything goes our way, but usually at the very minimum we learn something from a tough situation. Keep the positivity flowing by recognizing this.
3. Step out of the comfort zone – Ask for a challenge at work, embrace it, this is the only way to learn and develop. Although it may be tough, we always get through it and come out having learned something new about our line of work, but also about ourselves.
4. Just go for it – Be confident, most of us question our abilities sometimes, which holds us back – this year let’s just go for it!
5. Remember that we create our journeys – As long as we remind ourselves of this there should be no question that we are leading the life we chose for ourselves. Our decisions shape who we are and who we evolve into.

Bring it 2015!