Resolution Free Zone

by Shann on Jan 04, 2012

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In Balance -Shann

Happy New Year!

This is the the time of year when life coaches and personal development bloggers have a field day sharing tips and ideas about how to strut your stuff and live your best life. With the new year comes a clean slate. A blank page. The chance to begin again.

If you are ready to improve the quality of your life, chances are you will begin to make changes in January. With transition comes the comfortable pull of ‘the way things have always been’. This force is strong and can often overpower newly minted resolutions before they have a chance to germinate.

I choose to live in a resolution free zone.

I prefer to evolve and improve my life with incremental steps toward profound change. Reflecting on my successes and failures in 2011 helped define my personal intentions for the new year. While I have lofty intentions and enormous dreams, I expect occasional setbacks. I believe you can correct your course of action and begin again at any time. Falling off the wagon does not mean you’ve failed.

If you are ready to make some changes, check in with how you feel about the following areas of your life to determine which area needs the most attention.

Relationships
Health and Wellness
Career and Business
Finances
Spirituality

When I look at each area of my life I see that improving my health and well being is most important. And while I improved my nutrition in 2011 with whole foods, super foods and healthy tonics, I let my active yoga practice and physical activity falter. This is not a new experience. I’ve played tug of war prioritizing regular exercise for many years.

Currently, I am marveling at the increased size of my Buddha belly. When the waistband of my favorite yoga pants began rolling off my waist, it was time to get moving again. Excuses, self-sabotage and getting away from the ritual of moving my body each day lead me here. Can you relate?

Here’s what I know. When I regularly move my body, I am a much happier and healthier version of me. The rituals that lead me back to this place of out-of -shapeness must be altered. I know how great I feel after practicing yoga, taking a brisk walk or going a few rounds with my heavy bag. I plan to get my ass out of my comfy chair more often in 2012. I’ve created a new ritual that will support my success. And when I inevitably fall off the wagon, I will dust myself off and get back on again.

Self Improvement begins with clear and focused action.

Identify what you wish to change
Get real about where you are you right now
Identify where you want to go from here
Create a new daily ritual to get you from where you are now to where you want to be.

Another thought about Personal Intentions….

Brilliant entrepreneur and marketer, Chris Brogan recommends contemplating and claiming three meaningful words that represent your intentions for the new year. I love this approach. When you identify your three words they become guideposts to help you stay on course with your personal evolution.

My Three words are: Simplify – Practice – Generosity

This year I plan to simplify my life by letting go of the past. I plan to practice what I preach and move my body. I intend to be extremely generous with everyone I have the good fortune of sharing my time with.

My young daughter proclaimed her three words (fun, surprises and dominance) while standing on top a giant mound of snow. You know what they say about apples…