Resolution or Intention?

How many of you feel the push to make a big change as we enter a new year? Could it be to lose weight… or to better control your anger… or to be more charitable?  As you think about this "resolution" does it come from a place of lack and a desire to undo or clean up past mistakes? Much of the time, New Year's resolutions are mixed up with a sense of failure and the self-critical push to do better or be better because otherwise you aren't good enough.

This is the official definition of the word resolution:
res·o·lu·tion | rezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/ | noun
: a firm decision to do or not to do something.
"She kept her resolution not to see Anne anymore." 

Notice the words "not to do something" and the example which stems from the idea of a wrongdoing. Maybe a simple shift in perspective could transform something that implies criticism to something that actually inspires you. Instead of coming up with a New Year's Resolution, how about setting your New Year's Intention. 

My yoga teacher passed along this article about New Year's Resolutions recently that really spoke to me:

"Intentions are on a higher plane than actions. Intentions are about changing our core behaviors and the way we view ourselves from a deeper perspective. We can accept our mistakes as lessons and learn to focus forward instead of looking backwards."

This year I've decided to set the intention to reach out to more people on a personal level  - including spending more time with people face-to-face. I can choose to do this in any number of ways, including making time for "coffee dates", hosting more gatherings in my home, offering my wellness coaching and environmental awareness initiatives to more people in the local community, and even making eye-to-eye, heart-to-heart connections with my loved ones. That feels a lot more inspiring than creating a New Year's resolution to back off of screen time. I enjoy my work and get a lot of satisfaction out of reaching my online and Skype audience. Why berate myself for that and find fault in it?

"Setting intentions gives us higher goals and more choices that can benefit our whole well-being." 

Intentions allow us to focus on learning from past mistakes and move forward in a positive direction instead of battling past failures. It's definitely a gentler and more loving place to begin.

THIS WEEK: As you consider ways to increase your wellbeing in 2017 consider setting a New Year's Intention and allow it to inspire you to take lasting action.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Would you like to receive these types of posts in your inbox? Never miss a week of my practical tools to help you live a more vibrant life by signing up for my newsletter. You'll receive my Wellness Toolkit for FREE just for signing up. Win-Win!