Happy New Year!
Tonight you’ll be enjoying the end of year festivities, we hope. Tomorrow, you’ll be planning for what comes next in 2011.
Will you set resolutions, or are you one of those in the room who says, “I don’t do resolutions”?
No matter how you frame it, I bet you’re thinking about how you might make 2011 better, or at least as good as, 2010. Who can help it? You may not want to couch your reflection in terms of resolutions, maybe because, like so many of us, you feel like it’s a set up for failure. A glass half empty view of the world might make one think as such. Honestly, though… isn’t goal-setting a really meaningful act? And isn’t the first of the year a great time to make a commitment?
For those who are disillusioned with their past history in resolutions, here’s a strategy or two that could bring new success to the forefront:
First answer the question: “what is most important to you, and what do you want to see happen?”
Then ask the question again.
And again, and again. Seriously. What do you WANT? What is most important to you in this moment?
I mean it. No, I REALLY mean it. What do you REALLY want?
What’s MOST important to you?
Am I annoying you yet?
Here’s the point…
If the first thing you said was “I want to lose weight,” I’d say, “So do I. What else?”
You’d say, “no really, I just want to lose weight.” Then I’d kick you out of my New Year’s Eve party. Why? Because you didn’t answer the other half of the question: “what’s most important to you?”
Is weight loss really the most important thing? Most people have to answer: “Of course not.” A very rare few will answer yes and really mean it because they are dealing with a serious weight issue that is life threatening, BUT EVEN THEN… What is most important to those rare few? To live.
That’s the point. To live is most important, first and foremost. To live well, you’ll want to be a good friend, lover, parent, son or daughter. Next, you’ll want to be good at the work you do best, to contribute to society at your best. Finally, you’ll want to be healthy. How, I ask, can you be healthy without the first two? So IS losing weight MOST IMPORTANT? I should think not.
I know, I know, you’re still annoyed. You think I’m pious and you wish I’d shut up and your pants are tight from the eggnog and the cheese platter. Mine are too but I’m trying to pace myself. Actually, I’m trying to savor what’s in front of me: family, great food and beverage, my dogs, my strengths (good health, optimism, integrity, compassion), and my work. So my pants are little tight. So YOUR pants are tight. Are we good? Are we safe?
Ask yourself why are those pants tight. Were you sitting on your duff doing nothing all year? Again, I think not. My story for you is that you’ve been every bit as busy as I. Life is chaotic. Keeping up with it takes great resources and energy. Life is also marvelous. Enjoying it sometimes takes a little bit of room in your waistline!
A little holiday paunch may have developed but you really have to ask WHY before you brow beat yourself into “Just Do It.” No wonder people shun resolutions. They can make us feel inadequate and defeatist.
Take back the Resolutions, I say! WHAT DO YOU WANT? I’m begging you, take a moment to answer honestly. What is MOST important to you this year. Really. Build a comfortable but reaching goal based on what’s important to you and what you really want. From there, here are some great ways to encourage you to succeed:
- Give yourself a reasonable benchmark (or two or three).
- Put your support people in place to help you (especially when facing difficult times).
- Make a plan to create supportive environments for your success.
- Be inspired by role models who have done what you hope to accomplish.
- Put a plan (or two) in place for when you might stray off your path.
- Finally, plan to celebrate your successes, along the way, and when you reach the top!
These great steps come to us from two fantastic resources, both big parts of PATH:
Intrinsic Coaching — created by Dr. Christina Marshal and delivered by PATH with our partner Progress Coaching)
And
PATH Peer Coaching Course — written and designed by Dr. Judd Allen
Revel in what’s gone well this past year, savor what’s in front of you, and then, with a joyous heart, plan for 2011 so that great moments will happen no matter else comes your way.
From all of us at PATH, we wish you the happiest new year, may each day be healthy, safe and abundantly joyful, and may all your health dreams come true. We’ll be there to support you along that way.