[progressally_objectives]

Video

Lesson

Did you make resolutions this year?

How are they going?

As I stated in the video, about 8 days into the new year is when many of our resolutions are already faltering.

And I think part of the problem is the whole idea of resolutions! When we set resolutions, we set our focus on a very particular outcome, one that we quickly become attached to. We’ve picked the destination, but we often haven’t investigated the route — or routes — that will take us there.

Instead of making firm resolutions this year (eat healthy! lose 15 pounds! read all the books!), focus on the small, manageable steps along the way (eat a salad for lunch, go for a walk after work, read for 15 minutes every morning). Put your effort into the journey.

Think of resolutions as intentions — we have a clear sense of where we want to be and how we want to feel, but we accept that the goal may end up looking very different from what we are currently envisioning.

Your Mindful Move

If you set resolutions this year, take a look at them. Are they goal-oriented or process-oriented? Are they designed in a way that the journey will be satisfying, not just the single moment in which the goal is attained? Can you mindfully acknowledge that the outcome may not match the perfect vision in your head?

This isn’t about lowering expectations, or not having any goals at all. It’s about acknowledging that there are many paths that can lead us to joy.

You may find the following resources helpful for rethinking resolutions:

A Mindful Approach to New Year’s Resolutions (from my blog)

10 Mindful Resolutions for 2016 (from the Huffington Post)

Why You Shouldn’t Set A New Year’s Resolution (from Pocket Mindfulness)