New Year's Resolve

Happy 2013.
We made it into the new year
We got past the dire predictions and the holiday hoopla.
Yay.

Admittedly, this is a great time for reflection (what worked last year & what didn't) and resetting things (boundaries, goals & the PVR).

How are those resolutions coming along?  How's your resolve? 

I usually don't make new year's resolutions, but this year, I did.  Maybe it was the persistent reminder that our time on the planet is finite (thank you Mayan's). 

Looking for direction, the wise words of a teacher popped into my head....  'When we really want to do something, we find a way to do it.  The opposite works, too.  When we don't want to do something, we will find a way not to.  How we feel about something will override our willpower (immediately or eventually*)."
 * my words added.

Using that theory,  I looked at what I really wanted for this year; how I wanted to be. 
My goal:  I want to be healthier this year.  I considered why that was important to me and how I would feel about being healthier. Yes, I know, the word 'healthier' is subjective; not a specific, measurable goal, like say, 'I need to lose 10 pounds', or 'I have to walk 1 mile a day, or eat less chocolate'.

Instead - when I say to myself "I want to be healthier.", it can include what I eat, my activities, how much sleep I get, who I spend time with, how I get places and what I do for myself.  And guess what - somehow, I find myself wanting to practice yoga in the morning, reaching for an apple when I'm hungry for something sweet and choosing to walk to the grocery store.  That doesn't mean that sometimes I only do yoga for 15 minutes,  enjoy a piece of dark chocolate or take the bus/car when it's raining...... but it does mean that I'm engaged and each time I do something that promotes my health, I feel good about it.

What makes this different than the wording of a lot of 'resolutions', are the words 'I want to' (and meaning it). 

When we feel pressured or guilted-into, or manipulated into doing something - we begin to feel resentful and look for ways to get out of doing what ever it is - that can include resistance, avoidance or out-right rebellion.  Not a happy situation.  We notice feelings of anger, frustration, sadness, guilt, revenge, resentment, disappointment welling up inside us...... all very negative feelings that are usually paired up with negative words we say to ourselves.  This too often causes us to procrastinate, defer, delay, avoid, and quit.  When we're feeling that way, why would we want to do anything?

Wanting to do something trumps the duress of pressure.  It takes the heat off having to be perfect.  Somehow it also quiets my inner critic (when I slip up).  So the words I say to myself are kinder, more encouraging and generally more fun to hear.

So far this year, I have followed through - I am practicing yoga in the morning, am more aware of what I'm eating and have found myself choosing to walk places more.  The results may not be 'measurable' yet, but I do feel healthier and happier (that's a bonus!).  I'll keep you posted.