As we head towards the end of another year, it is a great opportunity to stop, pause and reflect on the good, bad and ugly of 2015. And then look forward to what we will invest in, in the New Year.

We might tend to do that with regards to habits and the way we spend our time, in terms of thinking about our jobs and whether we are happy there or looking to move on, and maybe even with our money looking at do we need to tighten or can we afford to loosen our belts.

But do we ever do that with people? Do you?

Let me head you towards 2016 with three invitations as far as the people in your life are concerned.

INVEST IN THE WORDS

I write about this one quite a lot because I find it so valuable, but my first invitation is to diversify the people who speak into your life. I am thinking particularly of the books that you read [if you read books] but also if you follow podcasts or blogs and even if you are someone who is a churchgoer and listens to sermons.

Over the last three years I have been intentional in terms of choosing the majority of authors I read to be people who don’t look and sound like me. People of colour has been a big one, especially as I am trying to more deeply and accurately understand the complicated history of my country, South Africa. Women has been another one as they tend to give a very different flavour to men as they often see or experience things differently and the perspective they give enhances and often challenges my own.

I will on occasion read a book by a white, heterosexual, Christian, middle-aged male but only if the topic is really interesting to me – for the most part I have found changing up this perspective has given me a far more balanced view of life.

Another suggestion within this might be to read around a subject you have never read up on before. I realised two years ago that I didn’t know much about the Israel/Palestine conflict at all and it felt important to have some idea. So I chatted to a good friend of mine, Steve, who has visited the country a number of times and since then have read three highly recommended books by him. I’m no expert, but I feel like I’ve broadened my perspective and understanding of the world.

Why not invite friends of yours to recommend their top book by an author of a different gender, race, religion, background to yours and then commit to reading twelve of those books over the next year?

INVEST IN THE RECEIVING

Who speaks into your life? And more importantly, who have you invited to speak into your life? As you head into a new year there might be different parts of your life that could use the benefit of someone who is an expert or who maybe has some experience in that particular aspect. Not all of them may have the time or inclination to help you, but you will never know unless you ask.

If you’re married, then finding an older married couple who you respect and believe to have a strong marriage and asking if they will have dinner with you once a month, might be a hugely life-giving thing to your marriage. This also will be a really great thing to invite even if you are dating or preparing for marriage. As a single person, there might be an older single person who you would relate to in issues of life and love and more and so the same applies.

If you struggle with money, then finding someone who works in that field [as they may be much more passionate about it than you] and ask them if they will mentor you through decisions involving investment, savings, debt relief and how and why you spend your money?

For your spiritual life, do you have a mentor? Have you invited some of your strong friends to hold you accountable in different areas you might be weak or struggle in? Have you given anyone the permission to ask you the really difficult questions?

People tend towards busy and so you may not be able to find all of the people you would like or need to do all of these things [and they can move towards other things like strengthening your gym program, or learning how to service your car or finding someone who will mentor you in food preparation] but as you head into 2016, why not pick some key areas and some people you trust and at least send the invitation.

INVEST IN THE GIVING

This is the one you will have a little more control over. As you look back through 2015, who are the people who you mentored, or cheered on, or taught something, or listened to? Some of you reading this will have a list that is really impressive and maybe already too long and the invitation is NOT for you to overload yourselves with more people?

But if you are reading this and realise that 2015 was a bit lean in terms of people you poured into, then please be more intentional in 2016. What are some of the strengths that you have that others might be interested in?  Or is there someone perhaps a little younger than you, who you might be able to meet up with once a week for a coffee or milkshake and just connect with them and give them a space to share or ask questions.

The opportunities are endless, but it takes intentionality.

All the best as you look to make good people investments in 2016.