If you're making New Year's resolutions this year, I just have one suggestion for you:
Make sure at least one involves maximizing a strength, rather than fixing a weakness.
A lot of resolutions address perceived shortcomings like, "Lose 10 pounds," or "Stop biting my nails." It's never bad to make changes that will improve your quality of life, but why not promise yourself to get even better at something you're already good at?
If you love writing, make a resolution to take a college writing class or to write a short story this year.
If you're a hockey player with a great slap shot, make a resolution to practice until you have the fiercest slap shot in the league this year.
If you're saxophone player, pick three songs that are too difficult for you to play now and promise to learn them this year.
If you're really good with people, promise to find a job or activity in which you work in or lead a team.
If you love math, why not resolve to follow a math class at MIT online, or to learn more about a famous mathematician, or to deliver your best student performance in trig this year?
If you really enjoy helping people, find a community service project that will actually let you do more than just file papers, like working closely with the residents at a shelter for abused women or volunteering with a mobile health care unit that visits the poorest areas of your town.
If you love doing magic tricks, start doing shows at kids' birthday parties.
If you're a cross country runner, pick a local 10K race that's open to the public and try to finish in the top 20 or top 10. Or go all out and try to win it.
There's plenty of honor in spending time getting even better at something you're already good at. It feels great. And the most successful, fulfilled people are those who maximize their strengths. Why not use at least one resolution to maximize yours this year?