A New Take On Resolutions: 5 Tips For Creating Joyful Transformation in 2008
New Year’s resolutions are almost always centered around well intentioned quests for self-improvement. Unfortunately, most resolutions don’t last. Within weeks, days, sometimes even hours, we are back to our old habits. No lasting change, just the familiar feeling of disappointment, guilt and frustration at our apparent inability to buckle down.
Why does this happen year after year? Is it because we are weak, lazy or undisciplined? No!
We ditch our resolutions because we have unconsciously allowed our inner critics to become our personal taskmasters on an ego-fueled quest for perfection. Ick.
I will give up simple carbs.
I will floss after every meal.
I will stop reading celebrity gossip blogs. (Yes, that’s mine!)
There’s nothing inherently wrong with these resolutions but do you sense an attitude of all-or-nothing rigidity, an air of judgment, a generally feeling of this-is-not-going-to-be-fun? That’s the energy coming from a resolution chosen by an inner critic. The inner critic is pretty clear that we are inadequate the way we are today, so it’s “time you get your butt in gear, buster!”
Who wants to be subjected to that sort of judgment? Not me!
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Creating lasting personal transformation, which is the purpose of a resolution, can be enriching, joyful and satisfying.
So here are my 5 tips on how to create joyful transformation in 2008:
(1) CELEBRATE 2007 - Review the year looking for things to celebrate, memories to cherish, and lessons to apply in 2008. If you can’t remember, look through your calendar to trigger memories. Capture whatever emerges in your favorite journal. You can make lists, free flow journal, or draw about the past years highlights and lessons.
(2) RELEASE 2007 - Make a list of the things you want to let go of from last year - the mistakes, disappointments, failures, grievances. This list should be all the things that that will become emotional and mental baggage if carried into the new year. Now read over each item and explore how it served to show you a lesson. Then thank it for helping you grow, and forgive yourself for any judgment, criticism or resistance you put up in the face of this lesson. Now the fun part. Get a thick marker and write in big letters over the list “THANK YOU. NOW, I RELEASE YOU. GOODBYE.” If you like you can burn, bury or shred the paper, just to really get the point across, you are releasing 2007!
(3) VISION FROM THE FUTURE - This is a right-brain activity that shocks me every time I do it for myself! You are going to write a letter to a trusted, loved one, but you are going to date it in the future. Let’s make it December 31, 2008. Tell them about all your successes and joys, the lessons you learned and adventures you took. Also, tell them a little bit about how you did these things, how it all unfolded. (This is the right-brain part that allows you to bypass the inner critic and reveal the “resolutions” that are aligned with your authentic core.)
(4) CHOOSE INTENTIONS - Now review the letter you wrote to your trusted loved one and consciously choose the actions you want to take in 2008, the actions that will lead you to the future you visualized. These are your new year intentions (resolution is so 2007).
(5) FIND A SYMBOL - Choose a symbol that will remind you of the future you intend to create this year. Something that connects with your vision. It could be an image, a quote, a song, or something you created like a drawing, collage, or even piece of clothing. Be creative!
That’s it folks! Have fun with this process, and remember, keep your intentions fun, joyful and always keep them aligned with your authentic core!
CALL TO ACTION ::
Will you help me start a dialogue? Post a comment to share your celebrations, lessons learned, mistakes released or intentions set.
Tags: goal setting, tips