As seen in the Dayton Daily News on January 14, 2017.
While ringing in the New Year, some of you didn’t bother to commit to making any resolutions because in the past you gave them up in no time.
Even though you no longer call them resolutions, I’m guessing you have thought about ways in which you would like to improve your life.
You think of things like: I need to lose weight, exercise, save money and get organized.
No wonder you stopped making New Year’s resolutions. They all sound like you’re going to have to give up something in order to achieve them.
Whenever I make a resolution, I think about Wayne Dyer’s quote, “When you change the way you look at things…things change.”
Instead of focusing on the negatives and what I have to give up, I think about the rewards that come from sticking with my resolutions. Doesn’t this sound easier already?
Let’s look through the list of the most common resolutions people make. I’ll show you how they can be reworded to help you accomplish your desired change.
Instead of saying, “I want to lose weight and exercise,” I say, “I want to feel younger than my age.” For me, this sounds like a positive goal worth striving for.
Notice I didn’t say, “Look younger than my age.” That would bring about anxiety. After all, Mother Nature has her own plan for me.
Feeling younger than my age requires exercise and eating healthy. These do not sound easy to do so I rephrase them. This year I am going walk my dog, ride my bike, swim at our local pool, and as the saying goes, ‘Dance like nobody’s watching.’
I am also going to choose foods that give me energy instead of leaving me feel lethargic. With this energy, I will travel, go camping, plan activities with my family and do simple things that make me happy every day.
When I focus on what I get to do by eating healthier, I feel less deprived when I eat fewer fried, salty and sugary foods.
In order to save money, I focus on simple pleasures I enjoy that don’t cost a lot of money. To name a few: reading, trying new recipes, playing cards, hiking, biking and spending time with people who make me laugh.
Last on the list, get organized. Instead of looking at your cluttered room and thinking, “I feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start,” think about how you would use the room if it was just the way you wanted it.
Instead of saying, “I have to organize this room” say, “I can’t wait to have my yoga/meditation room to relax in.”
The first step to accomplishing your goal will be to donate or relocate all of the items that don’t support your purpose for the room. Remember to focus on what you are gaining by letting go, a relaxing place to go in your home. Don’t focus on what you’re losing, all the stuff you no longer use.
Change your resolutions to what you have to gain this year, instead of what you have to give up. Choose ways to accomplish your goals by doing what you enjoy.
Whenever you struggle, review the benefits of keeping your resolutions so you continue moving in the right direction.