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Health & Fitness

New Year's Mindfulness Instead of Resolution

As I sit here writing on this blog at 4:44am on New Year's Day, I reflect on the previous year. I am grateful for all of the wonderful clients and students that have allowed me to be a part of their lives. To assist them in their life transitions, whatever and wherever they may be. Thank you.

The new year is typically a time where people reflect on change; starting fresh and anew with some aspect of his or her life. Usually what happens is we start with a large goal: a resolution of sorts. "I have to lose weight." "I have to start a new career." "I need to obtain the benefits of this type of workout."

Why do we push ourselves like this? With these shoulds, coulds, needs, musts, and ought-tos, we are hurting more than helping ourselves. Doesn't life pressure us enough? So why place that pressure on ourselves? Here is the question I want to ask you.

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Can you be all right with being in the present moment?

Can you be all right with allowing yourself to feel whatever emotions and sensations you feel in the here and now? Instead of running and hiding (pushing them down until you become numb) from this?

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Can you allow your breath to guide you to where you want to be? Can you allow it to soften, deepen, and steady your mind?

Our minds race and bounce enough; going here, there, and everywhere like the character Tigger from Winnie-the-Pooh. There is nothing wrong with taking a few moments to stop and settle.

You can even start with this by something as simple as drinking a cup of coffee or tea in the morning with no distractions. Notice the warmness of the liquid. The subtleties of the different tastes that you may experience. In and of itself, this is mindful meditation. You will be surprised by practicing somethig as simple as this, how it carries over into other facets of your life.

Back to the resolution making. Instead making the grand and final goal the only goal, can you break this work down into pieces (baby steps) towards what you want to accomplish? Can you break it down towards something that can be measurable and tangible? Can you set an intention instead?

This may seem like crazy talk. But this is something I realized I needed to do in my own life. Whether it is has been with work, family, or my health (which is still a mystery currently), I had to let the mind settle before I could work towards any of the steps/smaller goals of what I needed in my life.

This means being still, allowing myself to be with whatever emotions and sensations to enter. Not running away from them, but allowing them to occur. Not getting caught up with the story of what was occurring or adding more meaning to what was going on, but looking at whatever was going on in my life as what it is.

Acknowledge the smallest of steps towards whatever it is you working towards. Keeping these simple, small goals and steps flexible assists whenever those days come, no matter what you do, they are just rough days.

I am not saying that this is easy. It takes a lot of work. And some days are better than others. Acknowledge that you are human; we are not perfect beings in the first place. Temporary setbacks do not mean you are a failure.

So if you have a large goal, break it down. If it you want to practice self-care, what things can you do show what self-care looking like. Maybe it is doing something health related, like taking a short walk for 10-15 minutes a day. Maybe it is asking questions to someone in a career that you are trying to pursue. Do something you will enjoy. So if you hate running, please do not run!

Get the idea?

Reach out to those that you can ask for support and will encourage you when you feel frustrated. Share whatever progress you have made with loved ones, a journal you can reflect back on, social media, wherever you have a platform to have a voice.

Share your successes, no matter how grand or small they may be. Why?

Because they are your successes and no one can take that away from you. You already have one person in your corner that supports you (me) :-).

Happy New Year and all the best.

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