New Year, Same Story
I’m so predictable.
Every year, like so many others, I tell myself that on January 1st I will doing everything differently.
Eat better
Get in the gym at least 3 days a week
Let go of negative baggage
Travel more
Only do things that fulfill me
Live my best life
Well, here’s the truth. I always start off well with the eating. For about 5 good days I am golden. Strict. Feeling good. Then that 6th Day I decide to reward my hard work with something that I really want. 359 days later I am still rewarding myself for those 5 good days. I go in and out of a hate/hate relationship with the gym. Residual baggage follows me like a shadow. I use excuses why I can’t take a vacation. Guilt forces me to do things that I don’t really want to do but feel obligated to. Best life? I don’t know about that. A good one for sure, but I can’t confidently say best.
I get to December 30th, and I’m pissed about what I didn’t do. On December 31st, the declarative vision for the new year is set and I am starting the cycle all over again. For as long as I have been playing this “hamster on a wheel” game, I definitely should’ve been able to knock number 2 off the list by now. (insert eye roll)
I was chatting with my mom last month and it was brought to my attention that this inability to “follow through” is a constant struggle that I have in my personal life. And before you say it, let me get this one statement out of the way….YES, that also applies to this blog. I know, I know, it's been a while. I’m not sure why this is, but if it is something that I don’t consider a necessity, I never finish. And that tends to be anything that has to do with me personally. I don’t put myself first. And so in turn the list of resolutions don’t matter enough to be completed. It just becomes words on a page that I will attack when I find the time to. Which is never.
Since knowledge is power, now that I recognize that about myself, I want make changes and get a different result this time around. I made a list below of gems that I want to complete to help me get on track and STAY on track this year. What better way to hold myself accountable than to share them with all of you. We can all do them together to conquer these 2018 goals! Over the year this list will shrink and grow, but what’s important is progression.
So here’s what I’m going to do:
Create a Vision Board
Sometimes I think these get a bad reputation as another form of a resolution that no one follows through on. But I think they are so necessary. I have always been a visual learner. If I don’t see it, it doesn’t exist. That’s what these boards are. Visual representations of the ideas and goals you have in your head. But here’s the trick, once completed, it must be displayed in a place where you will look at it daily. The kitchen, bathroom, on the way out of the door of your house, your desk at work, somewhere you can’t miss it. It serves as a daily reminder of what you are working so hard for and where you want to be.
Change Your Language
The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is fake news. Words directly affect your mind set and can therefore dictate how you react and motivate yourself to get things done. I am working toward omitting language that reflects doubt and hesitation. Inserting words that are declarative and involve a level of urgency. Who’s with me? Time to change those “should” statements into “will” ones.
READ THIS BOOK. The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna. When I read this book for the first time (yes, I read books multiple times), I purchased a copy for what seemed like everyone I knew. Within days of giving it to them, I recieved messages back praising how glad they were to have received it. In an easily digestible way, Luna explains what really living your best life looks like, how to find it, and what to do to obtain it. The best part about it is that it’s never too late! Reading a book like this periodically allows the mind and spirit to stay inspired. In as much as we all possess some sort of passion, keeping that flame fueled is important.
Set Benchmarks
I can’t count how many times I have seen a meme bashing the “New Year, New Me” rhetoric. I get the joke, but I don’t see the harm in setting new goals and allowing the new year to be the starting point. The problem is our resolutions are usually so big that we have a hard time managing the progress, become discouraged, and ending up going back to our comfort zones. Setting smaller, attainable benchmarks allows for more realistic and encouraging progression points further motivating us to keep going. And don’t forget to reward those victories, big or small!
Slow Down
Self care is so important. Not just for the physical benefits, but for your mental health. Setting aside time to slow down allows for reflection. I am always on the move and therefore rarely give myself a minute to sit still and think. It’s time to make time for this!
So there you have it, I guess I have created a resolution of sort. But this is only the beginning. What I really want for this year is the continued ability and drive to learn and grow. It’s not just every year...every month, day, minute is an opportunity to be better. That’s exactly what I WILL do.
Cheers to 2018!!! Let me know what's on your to do list this year!