If you’re like almost everyone I know, you
have your resolutions set for this new year.
You contemplate the tangible things you wish to increase, decrease, introduce,
or release within yourself. It might be
a bit boring and clichéd for me to list the regulars that show up for a
majority of folks each year.
I want, instead, to offer a couple of
points for consideration this year.
I believe that resolutions encourage us to
actively engage in making improvements that make us even healthier, happier, stronger,
more confident, and even more creative than we already are. It is the perfect
time to assess the things you like about yourself and your life, while bringing
to mind the things you wish to change.
I
believe it is important not to judge or
criticize yourself for what you consider to be a shortcoming or an area
that you see needing improvement. The
important point is that you are striving to make positive changes to these
areas of yourself and your life.
While assessing the effectiveness of your ability
to honor your resolution, please be gentle with yourself and the process……because
if it truly is worth adjusting, it will become more of a way of life for you -
rather than a crash course in dictated, uncomfortable, forced change. There
is no need for scolding, judgment, or self-criticizing if you see yourself
being lax on your stated changes. Try adopting a kind and light-hearted approach
where you forgive, allow, and reward yourself for the intentions you are
setting and the actions you are taking. If
the process is no fun and labeled as “self-torture”, then you won’t stick to
it!
Take each day for the opportunity it
brings, and contemplate how you can gently make the changes you envision. Maybe it takes years or decades, but if it’s
going to make a lasting impact in your life, it needs to be joyous, flexible,
and supportive! For me, I am pretty sure
I will never give up chocolate chip cookies even though processed sugars aren’t
particularly healthy. Sorry, but I must be
allowed to keep some guilty pleasures, and these delicious cookies aren’t going anywhere (but into
my mouth…) :)
For
next year, maybe you can even consider what positive changes you will make in
the world, not just in yourself……
[PS, not to tempt you with cookies, but I found
the above photo on Pinterest, and it happened to be connected to a lovely
chewy, chocolate chip cookie recipe, The Best Chewy
Café-Style Chocolate Chip Cookies from Host the Toast. Enjoy!]
For more insight, feel free to visit my website, http://www.letearthrise.com. Let me know if you have an interest in a particular topic, and I am pleased to offer information, opinion, guidance, or assistance. I welcome all ideas and feedback. Thank you for sharing your valuable time with me!
