Needless to say that when we embark on a new year we feel an urge to do everything. Exercise, Eat Better, Get Organized, Clean up our finances, Be a better wife or husband or mother or friend or PERSON. The reason that most New Year's Resolutions fail is because there are resolutionS. Yes, I capitalized the "s" on purpose. Too many new goals become overwhelming and we can't, as humans, perfect all these things all at once. So why not just forget about all those wonderful things and just be the same person we were last year? That's often what happens. What we need to do is set monthly goals.
Many of us have heard that in order to make a habit stick we must practice it for 21 days. I say 30 is even better. I'm reading "Happier at Home" now and she has a different area of her life each month that she focuses on. After the first couple chapters I realized that the reason she gives complete focus to her Marriage one month, and her children the next is because it really takes an entire month to figure out how to make things the best they can be. Starting out a new diet is hard. Starting a work out regimen is even harder (in my opinion). Then couple it with the finances our attitude and whatever other goals we strive for can just be a heavy load to carry all at once. Granted, I've been on a mission to organize my house. I feel that before I prepare my taxes my desk has to be clean and Christmas just calls for rearranging and organizing. This took me a couple days, thanks to my husband for entertaining the children. Now I can move onto the next task...financial organization.
For me it's important to prioritize. Exercise is important, but it can wait one more month. :) Is it easier for me to get back to healthier eating habits? Yes, and that has already begun. Is a change of attitude a priority? Probably my highest. I feel this is something that needs to be practiced ALL THE TIME. No exceptions or excuses. I actually started a new habit last month to make me work toward this even harder.
I actually decided at the beginning of December that I was going to give myself a monthly mantra. I declared it in front of a group during a monthly team building meeting that I attend. Therefore I am also being held accountable. It feels scary and reassuring when you announce it to people, but it also produces results. After I did that I found myself constantly repeating that mantra. I firmly believe that by declaring it, I practiced it more. Yesterday we had another one of our meetings and I told them my plan of changing my mantra the day before our meeting. This month it is: "Be the most positive and enthusiastic person you know." I saw this quote just a few days previous and fell in love with it. There are people that I meet; and although I don't know some of them very well, I admire their love of life and positive energy that they make the room feel. I don't want to be them, I just want to make others feel that way and in turn I will feel pretty good too.
Change is hard sometimes but is so rewarding. I get a thrill at the beginning of a new year because it feels like a clean slate. You can change anything you want to. If people judge you or ask you why you're different, you just say that was last year.
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