What comes to mind when you hear “New Year?” There’s a good chance it’s the word “Resolutions.” According to a recent Finder survey, 188.9 million American adults (that’s 74% of all American adults) make resolutions, and more than two thirds believe they have a good shot at following through on them.

Of particular interest to all of us here at my company Skillsoft, the most common resolutions are learning something new and self-improvement.

I’m in the minority; I don’t do resolutions. But I do find something special about the start of each new year; it signals the unknown and undiscovered, which can be both exhilarating and a wee bit anxiety-inducing, if I’m honest.

As I was on the Peloton doing a New Year’s Day Recovery Run (what else is new?), Joslyn Thompson Rule, one of the newer coaches, suggested that we think of a word or phrase — a herald, if you will — that would guide us into the new year. Not a resolution, but an idea. I liked the concept.

Excitement was the first word that popped into my head, and I’d love to say I stopped there. But, it was immediately followed by the word trepidation. And then, by a more comforting and truly timely idea: grace. It’s hard to have one without the others, isn’t it? And so rather than limit myself to one, I’m going to hang onto all three … and here’s why:

Excitement. Despite the challenges of 2021, it’s hard not to be excited by what’s in front of us. I don’t know when I’ve been so challenged — and invigorated — by my professional life. Seven months ago, Skillsoft began trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: SKIL) and the recent announcement about our intent to acquire Codecademy enhances what we’ve already started to build by adding Global Knowledge and Pluma to our offerings. 

Trepidation. It’s scary leaping into the unknown. We find ourselves in a time of tremendous uncertainty, much of it brought on by COVID and its impact on every facet of our lives. I mean, after two years, it’s hard not to be wary. But, while we can’t anticipate what 2022 will bring, “To expect the unexpected shows a thorough modern intellect.”  (Thank you, Oscar Wilde.) So, should we do?  Approach the new year with an agile mindset and then adjust course when and as needed.

Grace. The word has roots in faith and spiritualism, but #giveyourselfgrace has become one of the most utilized hashtags in the age of COVID. I’ve written before about cutting ourselves some slack. We’re all doing the best we can under challenging and changing circumstances. According to Dianne Bondy, yoga teacher and author, “Grace happens to give us some space, acceptance, and room to take a hard swallow or step back … and practice self-compassion.” I can’t imagine a better tool for this year’s toolbox.

So now I want to hear from you. What word (or words) will you carry into this New Year? What meaning does it hold for you? 

Here’s to our shared success in 2022 — and all the excitement, trepidation, and, especially, grace ahead!