It’s that time of year where many people get motivated to make a New Years’s resolution.
The start of a year holds the promise of something new: a fresh start, a ‘better’ you, weight loss, a smaller body, healthier habits, etc.
I just posted a bit on Instagram about how I’m rebelling against resolutions this year (I just started Instagram…does posting get easier?!)
This year I’m not making a resolution. I’ve spent many many years making resolutions from “I am doing Weight Watchers for 6 weeks” to “I will go to the gym every day for at least 5 days” to ” I’ll cut out sugar” to “This is my year to finally stop binging”
Except none of them ever lasted! (Because they were the “wrong” kind of resolutions to make).
So if you ARE thinking of making a resolution this year, make sure you ask yourself these 3 questions!
What’s your motivation behind it?
Is your motivation to “get” something? Are you doing something to achieve a certain result? (Usually these involve very strict resolutions like “I’m going to cut out carbs” or “I’m going to go the gym every day for 30 minutes”.)
We’re aiming for INSPIRATION, not harsh, rigid, motivation. Motivation can feel like we have to have willpower and discipline. And those are usually the things we never stick to long term.
What will this add to my life?
Does this add or take away something from your life? A few years ago, I shifted rigid resolutions to something along the lines of what I wanted to ADD (add some veggies, drink more water, sleep more, add a walk every day).
There is a big difference between “I’m going to cut out carbs” and “I’m going to pay more attention to carbs and how they make my body feel”.
Make sure your resolution adds something to your life. Otherwise, it usually tapers off by mid January and we’re left feeling like WE’RE the ones at fault. (When in reality, it’s like the diet cycle…we go “on” something and inevitably go “off”).
How does it make you feel?
Does it feel nourishing and gentle? Does it feel like something your body is craving and wanting? Is it a feeling of caring for yourself?
We want our resolutions and intentions to FEEL good; they come from a place of self-love instead of self-hate and kindness instead of criticism.
