You say you made a resolution.
This phrase has been running through my head over the past couple of weeks...(to the tune of the Beatles song Revolution, of course) The start of a new year with bold plans for change and self-improvement is upon us. A ritual that may happen annually for some and may seem like a waste of time to others. In the past, my resolutions have leaned towards the complex (with bullet points included under the main goals) and have often ended up on the “cutting room floor” within the first quarter of the year. Abandoned for a multitude of reasons which may sound familiar to some of you.
BUSY...No time to add new things to my routine
COMFORTABLE...My old habits are fine and I forgot why I thought it was a good idea to change them
ON OWN...Friends, job, spouse all fit nicely with the old way of doing things so I don’t have the needed support system to help facilitate the changes
STRESSED...I have a lot of stress because of (insert reason) and I need to this coffee, wine, chocolate, potato chip, etc. to make me feel better
So this year I’m focused on a different way of starting the year. It’s about revelations instead of resolutions. You see, I’ve learned that what is more important than improving ourselves is remembering ourselves. Our best selves. The person we show up as when we have the time, patience, and compassion for people and situations that present themselves in our lives.
We sometimes lose sight of this “self” as we react to the stress in our lives. When we focus on 1) what we don’t have, 2) what we think we need more of or 3) what might happen that is beyond our ability to control, we make repeated choices that don’t leave us feeling great. We buy things, eat things, drink things, say things that aren't fueling us and we end the year feeling discouraged or depleted.
And so when the new year begins we make resolutions.
Maybe that's working for you this year. Maybe this second week of January finds you killin' it. If so, that's great and you should keep doing what you're doing. Rock on!
But if you're looking for a new way, then you're invited to join me in focusing on revelations. This isn't about making big, overwhelming, sweeping changes that are focused on what you need to do and how you’re going to do it. But rather in knowing who you are, wanting to show up at your best and feeling inspired by this deeper sense of self. Revelation not resolution.
If you want to dive into this I've got a tool that can help you do just that. I've used it myself and find it's useful not only at the new year but anytime you want to change the way you're leading. Use it now. Use it later. Just try it.
“An idea, to be suggestive, must come to the individual with the force of revelation.”
