This is the point in the year when we really start looking ahead at what’s to come, while also taking a moment to reflect upon what has been. It’s a yearly ritual mired in clichés and endless online bombardments in case we’ve gone more than a moment and forgotten about it. While you may sense a laden cynicism between the lines, much of it has to do with my own realizations and failures.

However, this upcoming year, I’ve decided to partake in one ritual in which I see a much more mindful approach.

A close friend of mine informs me of a word upon which he revolves himself around for the year. As part of his own reflection and growth, and I hope he doesn’t mind me briefly commenting on it, I’ve always found it to be a fruitful endeavour for him. However, it never occurred to me that I could take this on myself.

This is mainly because in my years of studying the deepest questions of life while also continually getting called out by others for my serious social shortcomings, I’ve been too arrogant to consider it. It’s kind of a big blind spot for someone who ministers to young people to completely brush something off without trying to understand it first.

Yet, here I am teaching courses on morality and ethics with the ultimate aim of happiness in one’s own life, failing to take away my own big lesson in the end—and that’s the word ‘enough.’

In practical terms, I’ve looked at my home library, my “to-watch” list, the devices in my home, workout equipment, plus all my other physical stuff and realized I have enough to satisfy me for several years—let alone the solitary year ahead.

I’ve also looked at my digital space, with all its endless files, apps and tools I’ve flirted with (I must’ve tried every note app and word processor at this point) only to recognize the tools I constantly come back to are more than enough.

Then there’s the many quality activities and games to do with my kids that we’ve barely touched. Wouldn’t this be a great year to get around to them all?

Finally there’s the incredible relationships I have in my life. These have always been the source of my strength and the encouragement to venture out, reflect and grow. By recognizing I have enough in every other part of my life, I can take more time to appreciate and work on these solid pillars instead of taking them for granted.

Perhaps in taking in this year and focusing on that word, I might even come to realize that who I am is enough and I can stop being so hard on myself. Strive to do better? Always.

Dwell in a hopeless comparison to a standard that can never be achieved? Enough.

In fact, it starts now.