Well-known Australians and experts offer words of wisdom to make 2023 your best year yet

As the new year begins, we turn to some famous faces and experts in their fields for advice on how to find happiness and make this a year to remember.

It’s traditionally the time to reassess, question where we went wrong in this past year and where we succeeded. So we asked some experts who dedicate their lives to helping others develop and find happiness, along with some well known Australians who have learnt their own hard won lessons along the way, what they suggest we all do to have a better 2023.

Helen Baker, financial advisor, and founder of On Your Own Two Feet: Don’t put your head in the sand – take action. Being in a better position later in the year will make you much happier.

Amantha Imber, behavioural science specialist and author of Time Wise: Tie a rubber band around your phone. This puts a physical barrier in the way of checking it and will reduce the number of times you mindlessly check your phone.

Amantha Imber.

Michelle Gibbings, workplace expert and award-winning author of three books: Be deliberate about how you spend your energy – focus on what you can control, rather than wasting energy on things you can’t.

Antonia Ruhl, Wellness Coach, Natural Stress Therapy: Be true to yourself. Enjoy your life – it’s all you have.

Jack Crisp, AFL player for Collingwood: Be optimistic and have a ‘glass half full’ approach to your challenges.

Natasha Weber, Astrologer, AstroTash: The astrology of 2023 suggests happiness is found by filling your cup. You are your most valuable investment.

Tory Archbold, Owner Powerful Steps program: When you work on yourself from the inside out anything is possible, a small step is a powerful step to attract the miracles that are waiting for you.

Tory Archbold, Owner Powerful Steps program.

Jake Maddock, Relationship coach: Fix your relationship to make it a 10/10 and I guarantee you’ll be much happier. If you’re not in a relationship, make it your goal to be in a 10/10 relationship in 2023 by using my five pillars – building attraction, masculine and feminine energy, courtship, intimacy and communication.

Joanne Wilson, Relationship Counsellor: Launch your fulfilling 2023 with dynamic relationships that celebrate and encourage your unique and remarkable gifts built on the resilience gained from our recent challenging years.

Joanne Wilson, relationships counsellor. Photo Patrick Woods.

Shane Crawford, former AFL player and entertainer: It has been a bumpy ride for a lot of people lately. So just be kind and make someone smile.

Jakob Leschly, Resident Teacher Siddhartha’s Intent Australia, Buddhist Collective: When recognising and cultivating wisdom, which in Buddhism is an innate intelligence beyond language, concepts, and self-centring, it awakens natural freedom and countless good qualities.

Dr Chantel Thornton, Specialist Breast Cancer Surgeon: Focus on your physical and mental health and wellbeing. As the Dalai Lama once said, happiness is the highest form of health.

Dee Tozer, Couples Master Coach: Love is a verb – an action word. So, actions done, or actions withheld both have an impact. It’s the same with words – those said or withheld make a difference. Choose mindfully and always lovingly.

Psychologist Dee Tozer.

Julie O’Donnell, Teacher at Buddhist Rime Institute: The essence of true happiness is to let go of our self-cherishing and instead focus on lending a helping hand and giving warmth and kindness to others.

Bishop Brad Billings, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne: Be kind to others. Modern communication methods are often impersonal if not anonymous. It’s easy to be unkind in forums like this. So my wish is for kindness and respect in all forms of communication.

Bishop Brad Billings, Anglican Diocese of Melbourne.

Josh Piterman, musical theatre star: I’m always happier when I’m doing what I love and spending time with the people I love. Alongside that, it’s about balancing a healthy lifestyle of eating well, exercising, practicing mindfulness and getting into nature, with working hard and having some fun nights out.

Liam Stapleton, Nova host: Don’t sweat the small stuff is not exactly a Dalai Lama quote but it’s an extremely effective mantra to live by. Nothing clears the head more than a bit of perspective and letting go.

Maggie Hamilton, author What Happens to our Kids When we Fail to Grow Up? A little of what you love every day makes the soul sing – choose little as it’s do-able, nuanced, and impactful.

Kath Koschel, founder Kindness Factory: Be grateful for what you have and practice gratitude daily (start by writing three things that you’re grateful for right now), laugh more and be radically kind to yourself and others.

Cameron Daddo, actor: In order to be happier, the first thing I do is stop comparing myself to others. You do you, and do you the best you can do … there’s no one like you.

Anthony Callea.

Anthony Callea, singer: Be kind to yourself and others. Don’t compare yourself to others and make choices that will make a positive impact on you rather than taking on everyone else’s expectations of you. Oh yeah, and get more music into your life!

Dr Hilton Koppe, author One Curious Doctor: A Memoir of Medicine, Migration and Mortality: Working as a rural doctor for 30 years has taught me two things — life is short and precious and pay at least much attention to my own wellbeing as I do for others.

Sarah Morrison, actor: Setting a firm and loving boundary of what you’ll say yes to and what you’ll let pass by.

Donna Aston, director and nutritionist AstonRX: Happiness is something you need to work towards requiring a series of decisions, priorities, and commitments you choose each day.

Donna Aston, director and nutritionist AstonRX.

Lucy Durack, theatre star: We should all help each other where we can, stay in our own lanes and look for opportunities to sing along and dance to our favourite songs.

John Foreman, Aussie Pops: Go to the theatre; see a live band; experience the thrill of a live orchestra; whistle; walk the dog.

Hugh Sheridan, actor: Remind yourself not to sweat the small stuff. At the end of the day, everything is just coming to be and passing by so focus on that which abides like your friends and family.