New Year Resolutions

The resolutions made at New Year generally contain traces of what we intend for our life. They are future desires that suggest a gap in what currently exists. The shift to living this intention is often seen as a challenge. We may find we state similar resolutions each year as they tend not to be fulfilled.

When we set goals and outcomes the strategies to achieve them tend to be rigid and rule driven. This type of structure tends not to empower us for day to day decisions and choices which are important if we intent to uphold long term practices. We may not find this the most enjoyable experience.

So using physical activity as the example, rather than setting a rigid exercise routine we commit to exercise each day in a way and amount that fits our life. Each day we then become the creators of our exercise and live out our commitment.

It may be a lot one day, less another, structured exercise or incidental but no matter which, they are all suitable in a lifelong commitment to physical activity. Unlike goals and outcomes this approach does not have an end point or end of commitment but becomes a way of living. We may become more appreciative of what we do rather than what we don’t achieve in formal set routines.

This could expand into other areas where we live and shape the life we intend each day. Imagine being happy with our commitment to physical activity, nutrition, relaxation, finance, the environment and relationships or whatever it is that we set for ourselves?

It may be not as difficult as we imagine as there are many possibilities each day for small contributions. To choose an apple over a cake, take the stairs instead of the lift, take 5 long breaths in silence and calm, saving the coins instead of an extra coffee, place the food scraps in the compost, listen without doing most of the talking with friends or a small action towards a future dream.

At the end of the week there would be quite a list of small yet significant contributions. We would be living our life intention in a gentle and flexible way that works for us and is without judgement and expectation of what standard it ‘should’ be.

We could feel satisfaction in knowing that we are ‘in the shift’ rather than seeing the shift as an ‘out there’ possibility for next year.

So as we seek new ideas and other possibilities that make a difference, we may find them enter into our day at some point.

So I hope you live out 2009 with traces of all your best intentions.

Have a good year!