Tag Archives: #newyear

Another New Year

27 Thursday Dec 2018

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I hope and pray that each of you reading this email will see another new year, to that end….another new day every day for 100 years. There is another New Year on the horizon (2019) and many people have the same internal and external conversations about what changes will be made in their life in the upcoming New Year.

Are you having the SAME conversation this year as you did last year and the year before? And the year before, and the year before….and so on? If so, let’s commit to this New Year being the last year for the SAME conversation. Because, this New Year will be the year that you stick to and accomplish your goals, so the next New Year (2020) you can make new goals and have new conversations.

Check out my post: Does a New Year = Change for you?. In this post, I discuss the importance of having an attachment to your “why”. While I still think this concept holds true, I think on a stronger level than that is that permanent change will only occur when what you are currently doing is more uncomfortable for you than the change is. There is a lot to be said for becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable; you will accomplish more and be more successful in general living your life uncomfortably.

I’ve heard it said that if your goals don’t scare you a little or a lot then they aren’t big enough. To wrap this up, living your life in your comfort zone will yield no positive change, everything will remain the same and then you will continue to have the SAME conversations year after year.

Keep in mind that any progress is better than not doing anything and any lasting positive change is better than striving for perfection.

Please also check out my posts: Do You Have GRIT? and Tips for Enjoying the Holidays. I think you will find these valuable in this conversation as well.

A Few of My Wins in 2018

I’ve created a habit of walking 30-60 minutes 3-5 days a week. Sometimes less, depending on the week, but I really put for the effort to hit 5 days per week.

And I’ve lifted weights more consistently this year than I have in the couple/few years prior, which has been awesome. I love feeling strong. I plan to continue with these habits for the rest of my life. I’m sure there will be ebbs and flows though.

I’ve come to terms with the skin that I’m in. I appreciate my body for what it is and keeping me alive. I let go of expectations around what “I’m supposed to do” when it comes to cooking.

In 2019

I want to up my water consumption. I’ve been slacking on this for a while. And I want to swim at least once a week.

2016 Reflection = 2017 Theme

06 Friday Jan 2017

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I realize that I’m late posting a New Year post….I hope you can forgive me.

I have decided that 2017 is the year that I’m not going to let stress or should-ofs, would-ofs, or could-ofs hold power over me and how I think or feel about myself or my life.

I am not making resolutions or goals that have anything to do with what “I don’t want to…”, or “I’m not….”, or that are in any way a restriction or way to make myself smaller in the world.

Instead….I’m only making goals for this year that allow for more freedom (mentally, emotionally, and physically).

My Theme for 2017 is “Let it Go”

Let Go of stress

Let Go of all the things out of my control, that I want to control

My active exercise:

  • Recognize – when I’m having negative or stressful thoughts
  • Stop – myself mid-thought
  • Analyze – if the thoughts are about the things I can’t really control or do anything about (which they usually are)
  • Let it Go – actively tell myself to “Let it Go!” (insert a deep belly breath)
  • Move On – to a new thought

It has only been about a week, but so far this exercise is working quite well.

 

I have written about stress before here and here, but stress is our reaction to our perceptions about a given situation. While some stress is probably inevitable, some of it doesn’t have to be….I can make a choice to Let it Go.

I believe there is freedom in Letting Go.

My hope is that by practicing this exercise and Letting Go of all the things and not allowing the unknown to stress me out….that I will be able to be more present in there here-and-now.

 

I have always been the type of person who is goal oriented and results driven; it is what propels me forward every day and in my life. I think having specific and attainable goals is important; I’ve said for years that “if you don’t know where you are going, then you will not know how to get there”. I do think that we must leave room for error, movement, bending, and flexibility in our resolutions – allowing them to evolve as we do and as our life does throughout time.

Do not allow your resolutions or goals hold more power than they actually do and dictate how you feel or what you believe about yourself and your life. Allow them to be fluid rather than the end all be all.

I wish to you all a healthy and happy 2017!