Happy 2018! Why to make intentions rather than resolutions
For many it is that time of year again when we take the opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months and decide what we want to change for the year ahead, often with exactly the same thoughts as this time the previous year.
Following the Christmas excesses we can all get caught up in the web of resolution, forking out for expensive gym subscriptions or equipment, starting diets, giving up bad habits and generally planning on a better way of living. With hope in our hearts and a vague vision in our minds we open up to the perception of a different version of ourselves. However, often as the end of January approaches our attendance at the gym has dropped, the new equipment has already gathered a light layer of dust and our eating habits have reverted to the norm. So where do we go wrong?
For me it all comes from resolutions. A resolution is so definitive, so final, it suggests fixing something that is broken, and as such almost demands us to make immediate and often drastic changes to many areas of our lives. These resolutions are so concrete that any deviation becomes a failure of the most epic proportions, we can’t do it! Is it any wonder that we, at this point, give up and settle back into our usual routine accepting that we can never change? But we can!
This time last year, I made the decision to drop the resolutions and make intentions. With intentions, I had the ability of being kinder to myself, accepting the fact that I sometimes wandered off the path and wavered in my determination, but I never wandered too far and always came back. In being flexible, I was much more able to succeed and relaxed about those times when I ate cake all day or that I missed a run or a session at the gym. It was far more realistic a goal and it did not alter or affect my intention it just meant I cut myself a break.
Therefore, this year I will again be making intentions, I will focus on building my business and read more so watch less TV. I will eat a more balanced diet, more protein and vegetables and less sugars rather than wanting to lose 10lbs. I will save money and time by preparing food as much as possible, rather than I will home prep every lunch.
After suffering a knee injury this year, which stopped my running for a while my intention, is to build up again slowly, I have entered a half marathon in March as I like to have a goal, however, I will listen to my body for the next couple of months and do what is right. I want to get fitter and stronger again, it will not happen overnight, but it will happen.
Rather than the negative of ‘lose 10lbs’, ‘stop watching TV’, with intentions we can focus on the more positive implications of our attainable goals, ‘eat more vegetables, healthy proteins and fruit’, ‘read more’.
So focus on what you will gain rather than what you perceive you will be missing. Go out, make great intentions, take action and have an incredible 2018.