Inspiration This Week: Ringing in the New Year

As we ring in 2022, it's that time of year that everyone starts making new year's resolutions. Lose 20lbs, be more organized, have a baby, etc. You know the deal. Have you already thought about what you want to work on in 2022? Let me offer a new perspective on resolutions and why you should be choosing values instead...

Theme This Week: Ditch The Resolutions

64% of all new year's resolutions get ditched or forgotten within one month of the new year. We have such high hopes, and go hard at those goals for a good couple weeks, but then we lose momentum. But why is that?

Resolutions are based on behaviors and there is a lot of societal pressure and "shoulds" attached to them. We often are encouraged that creating "big, hairy, scary" goals are ways to get to our dreams. Or promised that if we do a behavior for 21 days consistently, it becomes a habit. Unfortunately these are very restrictive mindsets that do not allow for flexibility. 

Say you set that famous resolution to lose 20lbs in the new year. So you set up a diet and exercise plan to help you knock off a good 5lbs in the first month. Everything is going dandy, until your mother-in-law needs to move in shortly and she brings all her sweets with her. Or you injure yourself and can't keep up with the HIIT workouts you started. Environment plays a big role, but we usually forget to factor that in. So then we end up blaming ourselves and consider it a failed goal.

You haven't failed at losing 20lbs I promise. But keeping that restrictive mindset can lead you to think you have. You HAVE made progress, and there are ways to readjust. But I also challenge is it really about the 20lbs or the sense of happiness you're chasing once you complete that goal? If you re-adjust your goal-setting to chasing a value, you will be more likely to succeed and allow for wiggle room and progress.

Values are the forces behind our behaviors. So when you set that goal of losing 20lbs, you are likely chasing a value of being healthy or wanting to show more love and compassion towards yourself. So let's think about the different domains: family relationships, intimate relationships, physical well-being, emotional well-being, spirituality, parenting, employment, education/personal growth, community, recreation. What kind of parent do you want to be? What kind of values do you want to instill in your children? What ways do you want to invite joy and play into your life?

Challenge This Week: Choose Your Values

Instead of setting a resolution, think about the values that are important to you. Choose one or a few of the domains above and set a value-based goal. If you value being in-shape because you want to be more accessible to play with your kids, then you can set a goal to find ways to show up for you kids with your fitness. So that may look like ditching one hour of watching TV to go play a game of basketball with the kids. Instead of being stuck trying to chase a lofty workout routine, you have flexibility to find progress in creating a more playful and fitness filled life. And you're more likely to stick to it because it is tied to a value of being a more present parent. See how that works? 

Cheers to a Happy New Year!!!