Resolution My Ass…

It’s the same thing every year…

We use this time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we want to go. And I’m ALL FOR taking time to pause and reflect. But for God’s sake- why the hell do we only do it at New Years?!?! 

Further, what is it that has all of us think that we’re going to wake up in January 1st and all of a sudden become the person that starts meditating daily, or going to the gym five days a week, or who stops eating sugar. If you haven’t been that person for the past 6 months, what makes you think that the clock will strike midnight and you’ll be that person now? What is so special about January 1? NOTHING.

We all know how it goes. We go hard and fast - maybe for a week, maybe for a month - but that first moment we slip, it’s an opportunity for that inner critic to beat ourselves up - and then our inner brat says “screw it! I’ve screwed up so might as well sleep in instead of going to the gym…FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.” 

Wanna know why? Because your determination doesn’t change your brain. Your actions don’t change if you don’t change your mental habits.

The good news? You can change your mental habits. They are not fixed. You are not “just this way”. You can be whatever way you want to be. 

First of all - why do you want to do this thing?!? What’s important about it to you?

Is it because you the think you SHOULD? Because if it’s because you think you should, Fuggedaboutit.

If it’s because you feel bad about yourself based on society…fuggedaboutit!

If it’s because you truly desire it and feel it will make your life better… well then let’s deep dive a little further. What stopped you before? What do you know might get in the way? What are you going to do differently this time? And what, exactly, is it going to look like?

This doesn’t work: I’m going to commit to the gym more often this year. 

THIS does: I’m going to move my body for at least 30 minutes 5x/week.

Wanna go even further? Specify the times and places you’ll that…

Wanna really make it stick? Do the OPPOSITE of what you think you should do and make it feel inconsequential to start…ie: I’m going to walk for 10 minutes a day. I know, I know…your overachiever brain is freaking out telling oyu that’s pointless. Except if you actually do it, at the end of 2022, you’ll have moved your body a hell of a lot more than in you throw in the towel on your daily workouts in February. 

And here’s the last part. The you that you are right now, right in this moment, TODAY - you're great. You are naturally creative, resourceful and whole. Only change something if you really want to. Just know that just deciding you’re going to change it - if you haven't changed it before- is probably not going to do the trick all by itself. There’s more to it than just making the decision that you’re going to do it differently. 

And one more thing -  you don’t have to wait for another year to roll around. You can set new goals on February 23, April 17, August 2 or ANY OTHER DAY that works for you. You can set new goals at any time. You can change a habit in any moment.

And if you want some support, you know where to find me…

Happy New Year. I hope it’s an intentional one.