As we enter a new year, many of us expect to feel energized, inspired, and renewed. Yet as time passes and life unfolds, each new year feels a bit different. When I was younger, a new year symbolized a fresh start and a clean slate. As I’ve matured, I’ve realized that a date on the calendar is not, in and of itself, a true “new beginning.” What time has taught me, however, is that any moment—any conversation, any challenge, any decision—holds the potential to be a new beginning. Another shift I’ve noticed in myself over the years is a deepening need to stay grounded, while remaining open to learning, thinking differently, and being ready for change.
Achieving That Balance
I think that Brené Brown, an author, speaker and podcaster who addresses courage, empathy, and leadership, captures the balance of staying grounded while remaining open to learning, thinking differently, and being ready for change beautifully in her book "Strong Ground: The Lessons of Daring Leadership, the Tenacity of Paradox, and the Wisdom of the Human Spirit." Specifically, she writes:
“I find that the vast majority of people, regardless of position, are struggling to find their ground… Radically changing markets, the exciting and disorienting integration of AI, tariff threats, and the sheer pace of change have leaders and employees scrambling… I watch as the scramble leads down the dangerous path of attempting to build new capabilities on top of old dysfunction… But at the very least, we should be building new capabilities while at the same time doubling down on core stability and functional strength.”
She adds that a commitment to intellectual humility is the core to being grounded and embracing paradoxical thinking:
“...We have to challenge ourselves to challenge our thinking…we must open our minds and think like scientists.”
Thinking Like Scientists
One movie my husband, David, and I can watch endlessly for its message to “open our minds and think like scientists” is The Martian.
Although the film is fiction, I love the moment in the movie when Matt Damon’s character, Mark Watney, an astronaut marooned in a space station on Mars says, “I’m going to have to science the ___ out of this” to survive. Against overwhelming odds, astronaut Watney succeeds because he stays grounded, while relentlessly finding solutions that had never been attempted.
Practicing This Mindset
When I bring this mindset into our world of patient care, I’m struck by the extraordinary innovation we witnessed in 2025—advances in diagnostic technology, contact lenses, spectacle lenses for myopia control, presbyopia treatments, and emerging therapeutic and surgical approaches.
What 2026 calls us to do is clear: remain firmly rooted in our core values and mission, while courageously integrating these new advances for the benefit of our patients.
I often ask myself: “Which of my patients doesn’t deserve my very best—and the very best that modern technology offers?” And of course, the answer is not 1.
When I shift my perspective and view the adoption of new technologies not merely as an opportunity but as an obligation—and when I think like a scientist, seeking pathways forward even in uncharted territory—I rediscover a deep sense of joy and fulfillment in what we do.
Growing in Service
I am learning every day to embrace challenges, question my assumptions, think more scientifically, and continually look for new ways to serve others. I am truly grateful to enter 2026 with all of you. Thank you for your encouragement, your dedication, and for reminding me why our work matters. OM
Email: dr@apriljasper.com
X: @DrAprilJasper
Facebook: @OptometricManagement
