The Anti New Year Resolution

Welcome to another year of promising to become a New You in the New Year.  Another year where we make a laundry list of things that you plan on “NEVER doing  again”.  You tell everyone about your plan and you go in full force singing at the top of your lungs “I’M A SURVIVOR”!

Then reality sets in…THIS IS HARD!!! You didn’t realize how hard it would be to get to the gym twice a week or how sore you were going to be.  You didn’t realize that quitting sugar or quitting HIM/HER was going to be more challenging than you thought.  You felt so strong and sure about it just a couple of weeks ago?  Within a few weeks you are right back to where you started.  Doing the very things that you promised NEVER to do again.  Then the familiar feelings of failure, doubt, fear,  and disappointment  creep in and take over. Finally, you quit and you’re right back to where you started. Promising to do better next year.

Do you know why?

New Years Resolutions are a list of promises that are drawn up WITHOUT  A PLAN.

 

Whereas, A plan, is a series of ACTIONS to help you keep your promise to yourself. How exactly are you planning on quitting sugar?  How exactly are you planning to get out of a toxic relationship? This year let’s do away with the empty New Year Resolutions and instead create an action plan that will guide us into becoming our best selves.

Here are some tips to help you get started on your journey to becoming BEST self:

Do you know why? New Years Resolutions are a list of promises that are drawn up WITHOUT  A PLAN.  Whereas, A plan, is a series of ACTIONS to help you keep your promise to yourself. How exactly are you planning on quitting sugar?  How exactly are you planning to get out of a toxic relationship? This year let’s do away with the empty New Year Resolutions and instead create an action plan that will guide us into becoming our best selves.

Here are some tips to help you get started on your journey to becoming BEST self:

1.  Write a letter to yourself. Describe where you currently are mentally, physically, financially, socially and spiritually.  Be gentle with yourself.  Let the feelings come and then let them go.  Seal the letter in an envelope or save the letter in a private folder on computer, phone or cloud.  Open the letter on December 31, 2020.  You may just surprise yourself.
2. Establish your anchoring statement for the year.  It is 2-3 word statement that you will weave into every aspect of your life (mentally, physically, financially, socially and spiritually).  It will remind you of your reasons for making the changes that you want to make.  That statement will be what will help you to refocus and anchor you to your plan when you are having a difficult day, week or month.
3. Examine your tribe. This is very difficult one.  Who in your familial and social circle has become so toxic that their very presence in your life weakens or hurts you?  Who in your circle motivates, encourages and inspires you to be your best self?  It is very important that your tribe match what you are trying to accomplish because they will be the ones to help stay on or deter you from  your path.
4. Monitor Your Thoughts and Your Words.  We are so prone to negative self talk.  It’s easier to be self deprecating than it is to be complimentary.  As the saying goes, whether you say I will succeed or I will fail, chances are you’re right.  Our thoughts and words are made up of vibrations.  So whatever, we focus upon is what we will attract.  Let’s begin to become mindful of our words.  Identify 3 What negative/self-deprecating/blocking statements that you repeatedly make and replace it with a positive one.  Ex. I notice when I make the statement “I am tired” , it actually makes me reven more tired.  So, now I am working on saying, “I need to recharge, but I’m doing great” .
5. Be Bold and Courageous. This is especially important when we are most afraid.  It’s scary to try something new, it’s scary to lose a friend, it’s scary to admit that we need help. The road to becoming a better you is riddled with failures, setbacks, and feelings of discomfort.  However, as you climb over each of those roadblocks you get an opportunity to get a better view of how far you have come and what you have to look forward to.