How many times have you been asked if you’ve made any New Year’s resolutions? We’re so conditioned to focus on making these resolutions the minute the clock strikes 12 midnight, but did you know that only 8% of people are successful at keeping their New Year’s resolutions? We make so many unrealistic and unattainable promises to ourselves that it’s no wonder we’ve given up by February.
When we revert to old patterns, we beat ourselves up for not sticking to our resolutions and our ego kicks in and begins to criticize us by saying, “you’re not enough, “you’re not worthy,” “you don’t deserve this”… sound familiar?!
Before you decide what it is that you want, set your goals or intentions for 2018. Create a year in review and ask yourself, “are your goals connected to your own values, or is it something you feel you want or should have?” Make sure they come from you.
Examine what worked, what didn’t, and what was holding you back. Be specific, what old habits need to be broken, and what new ones need to be created?
If you have struggled to make progress in the past, forget about resolutions this New Year’s and instead focus on the stories you tell yourself that might be holding you back.
Find a space just for you, no piles of to-do lists, or dirty dishes… just peace and quiet, perhaps light a candle or listen to some music. As you review your year, spend some time reviewing your successes, achievements, and areas that need improvement. Create a list of things or patterns to let go of what didn’t serve you this past year as well as things you don’t want to carry with you in the new year. What were the major lessons? Do you notice any repeating patterns? Procrastination, clutter, fear, etc? Check in with what you want to STOP doing What’s been weighing you down? What didn’t work? Reflecting on your answers can give you a great deal of insight into the direction you need to take.
Letting go of what no longer serves you or is hindering you gives you space to do more of what lights you up and allows you the space for something new.
Focus on 3-4 major intentions for the year – What’s your big vision? When you have your “big” vision, break it down into monthly and weekly goals. By doing this you can stay away from the overwhelm.
Be clear on your “why” and be specific with your intentions. For example, it’s not enough to say I want to lose weight. Why do you want to lose weight? How will it make you feel? What are you going to do to lose the weight? Knowing your ‘why’ will allow you to get in touch on an emotional level. Write these answers down, then write 10 steps to achieve this goal. You need a plan in place to achieve the goal.
Not surprisingly, the New Year’s resolutions that are most likely to succeed are the ones that mean something to you personally and come from a place of passion – not the ones someone else says you should do.
As is true with habit building in general, the fewer resolutions you make, the more likely you are to succeed. Building new habits is hard. Stick to just a few meaningful things and you’ll be much more likely to meet all your healthy goals this New Year.
Enroll friends and family by openly sharing your goals or intentions. Goals take time, hard work, perseverance, and commitment to achieve. To be “accountable,” all you need is a clear goal and a willingness to let other help you achieve it.
Remember you body, mind, and relationships are your most important investments. Spending time and energy in these areas is a perfect way to reset, restore your energy, and return to a sense of well-being. Take time to understand your needs and goals. This year, make it a goal to invest in yourself!
Reward yourself. Whether it’s dropping a dress size, running an extra mile, or trying a new exercise class, celebrate each milestone you reach. The key is to remember to keep these small and healthy, so you don’t cancel out all your efforts!
No matter what intentions we set for ourselves, there will be days and weeks when we don’t live up to our expectations. This happens to most of us, and then we feel inadequate, incompetent, and lazy, and any number of other negative things. When we fall short, remember you’re not alone, and it’s not your fault. Be kind to yourself.
The secret is to take the pressure off and to set goals that you can actually stick to. Instead of one or two big grand resolutions, outline a handful of smaller goals that add up to a big change.
With intention, commitment, and a positive attitude, 2018 will be a great year!
It’s important to remember you can change your life at any time, not just on New Year’s Eve. Be patient with yourself! Long-term results are achieved through small, gradual changes.
“Keep your goals in front of you, and your fears behind you.” – Tony Robbins
“Today is page 1, Chapter 1, Go Create Your Story.”
Here’s to new beginnings…
To taking chances…
Living it up, laughing out loud…
And embracing all that…
Life has to offer!
Wishing you health, happiness, and prosperity for the year ahead, and always.
Thank you for reading, and keep well,