Each year around this time, I take the opportunity to pause and reflect — to think about what has and has not worked in the months that have passed and to brainstorm how to move forward. I deliberately question everything, including my beliefs about success, happiness, and lasting fulfillment.
It’s a practice I’ve done for many years. And though it can sometimes be uncomfortable, it’s also necessary and often eye-opening.
I have many colleagues, friends, and family who embrace this annual inquiry, too. And this year, I’ve noticed that there seems to be a lot of focus on the concept of change itself.
This makes sense: We’re not just living through change; we’re experiencing a shift in how quickly change happens. For most of my life, it has felt possible to look five to 10 years ahead and map a reasonable path. Today, trying to predict how things will look even six months from now can be challenging.
The pace of transformation, particularly around artificial intelligence, is relentless. AI is reshaping how we live, work, and even understand ourselves. Some of its iterations are startling — companions that monitor our moods, eye trackers that register our emotions, algorithms that anticipate our needs. These aren’t “someday” technologies; they’re here now.
AI’s presence demands a recalibration of our mindset, which begins with asking questions like “What does it mean to be human in this new landscape?” and “How do I stay grounded and present while embracing powerful technologies?”
As I’ve reflected on this, it’s become clearer to me that our fundamental needs haven’t changed. We still crave love, connection, purpose, and responsibility. We still need to cultivate a healthy mindset and stay true to our values.
This can be difficult when there are countless distractions competing for our attention and pulling us away from who and what matters most.
But in this age of rapid technological advancement, staying grounded in our values matters more than ever.
When we devote energy to relationships, experiences, and pursuits that fulfill us, we spend less time circling around limitations and more time building our capacity. Challenges don’t disappear, but our ability to meet them grows. We operate from a place of strength and possibility instead of one of scarcity and fear.
The same principle applies at the societal level. Yes, we’re losing certain familiar ways of working and being. But we’re also gaining tools and capabilities. We can learn faster, connect more deeply, and extend our physical and mental potential in ways our grandparents could only have dreamed.
The opportunity is to embrace these gains rather than trying to hold on to what was.
This is why reflection with active inquiry matters — it can spark discovery and motivate us to take action. So I invite you to ask yourself some questions:
- What am I afraid of?
- What beliefs am I carrying that no longer serve me?
- What opportunities am I missing because I’m looking backward instead of forward?
- Who matters most to me, and how might these new technologies strengthen those relationships?
- Which aspects of my humanity do I want to protect and cultivate as the world transforms?
Individuals, communities, and organizations that will thrive in this new era will learn to find a balance between staying rooted in human values and being endlessly adaptable to new technologies. For them, change won’t be a threat to resist but a catalyst for reinvention. They’ll recognize that in the age of artificial intelligence, our humanness remains our greatest advantage.
As we prepare to wrap up another year, I encourage you to revolutionize your reflections. Question everything, but don’t lose sight of what matters most. Be curious. Stay connected. Let yourself be amazed by what’s possible.
The speed of change isn’t slowing, but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. We can choose to see this moment as an invitation to expand our capacity for learning, adaptation, and growth. We can broaden our sense of what’s achievable — for our health, our relationships, and our contributions to the world.
This moment is about far more than survival. It’s about the art of thriving in an age of possibility.
This Post Has 0 Comments