


Dear Friends –
Every year, as I move through the month of January, I experience silent moments of panic, “How did I already reach this point of the month without making more progress on my goals?”
I start to become more aware of all the things that will be hard to accomplish, the changes I still need to make, and the things that are still not clear despite my best intentions. I start to rethink the promises I made to myself.
Do you ever feel this way too?
What do you do?
One thing I do is reflect and ask more questions about my Dajim (다짐). English translates this Korean verb as a ‘promise’ or ‘pledge’ but it is more than that.
You make a Dajim when you claim with certainty a promise you want to keep.
You make a Dajim with the understanding that it takes courage because you are doing something hard, new, and challenging.
It is a promise of positive progress that will move you from where you are, to where you want to be.
Stating your Dajim is a way of pledging your true priorities and holding yourself accountable. This word holds more weight than simply making promises.
And because we are impacted by what we say, hear, and think, I think about the promises I want to keep, fight for, and stand for, with the word Dajim each year.
How about you?
If you honestly asked yourself what promise you are fighting for and working for this year, what would that be?
As we move from month to month in 2021, I encourage you to take the time to reflect on your Dajim.
This deep sense of knowing can give us the clarity and the courage when things get tough.
Happy New Year!
With love,
Founder & CEO, InnovatorsBox
Monica H. Kang, Founder, and CEO of InnovatorsBox® and Author of Rethink Creativity is transforming today’s workforce through the power of creativity. She helps companies rethink culture, leadership, and team development by making creativity practical and relatable regardless of industry or job title. She has worked with clients worldwide including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, government, and nonprofits. Monica’s work has been recognized by The White House, Ashoka Changemakers, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Prior to InnovatorsBox®, Monica was a nuclear nonproliferation policy expert. She holds an M.A. from SAIS Johns Hopkins University in Strategic Studies and International Economics and a B.A. from Boston University.
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