It is hard to not make New Years Resolutions.
The same force that compels us to have the Christmas spirit is the same that makes us want to promise all kinds of things for next year. It is not our fault. It is a very real energy.
When all that energy wears off however, usually by January 2nd, we wonder, what were we thinking? We spent way too much money, ate till we near burst and we made resolutions that will inevitably just not happen.
The reasons why we don’t change, can’t change or won’t change is because it is no fun.
I stopped making resolutions many years ago because I got tired of beating myself up. They are very ego bruising.
We are pleasure seeking creatures, like most animals, we don’t excel with misery. If resolutions mean work, well, that means misery and that means we are not going to do them, at least, not for long.
Therein are the secrets to keep resolutions, after the thrill is gone of making them. The first secret is to make them pleasurable. We make everything tedious work. Make it play and you will easily do whatever needs to be done – well, almost. You may need a bit of discipline once in a while, after all, old habits die hard. However, if you continually make it an effort, you are done, you won’t budge, you won’t do it. The second secret is to be open and try many things. There is always more than one way to an end. And trying many things – guess what – is fun!
Exercise. Ugh. How many of us are going to make that promise? Off to the gym we trudge like we are doomed. Who says exercise has to be the gym? There are hundreds of different ways to get physically fit. You could try every single one of them and still have plenty of choices left for next year. Perhaps one of them will click with you and you will – oh my goodness – enjoy it so much you’ll keep going! You can walk, run, swim, do karate, ballet, boxing, rowing, tennis. . . or do everything if you have the energy!
Diet. Oh, how many times have I been down this dead end. And hated every single minute of it. Instead, I learned how to cook healthy and found healthy foods I actually enjoy eating. There are many ways to get into the spirit of good food – cooking classes, seminars given by nutritionists, beautiful healthy food cookbooks and magazines, the internet is bursting with thousands of recipes and ways to make your favourite foods with substitute ingredients for all the bad stuff. And I also learned to like my body, lumps and bumps and all. It is way better to feel good inside than to look like a model. When I feel healthy and strong, well, I’ve met my goal!
Changing a personality trait or behaviour can also be fun as you try on new ways of being. We are very flexible and adaptable creatures. As always, I only support positive changes never destructive ones. There are infinite ways of being a better person than you are now. But perhaps, you are already good enough. None of us are perfect. Maybe you are trying to be who you are not – somebody else – and forgetting what a great person you already are. Any destructive behaviour however, is worth making a resolution to change it for good and forever. Not just for you, but for everyone.
My only thoughts for the New Year are to keep on doing what I love and do more of what matters to me.
No, I’m not going to make a resolution now.
