A fresh New Year often brings hope and desire for positive change and a more satisfying life.
As is the norm in our culture, many people turn to making New Year’s resolutions. What better way to start a brand new year than to resolve to do things differently. Right?
Well, maybe not.
I stopped using New Year’s resolutions as a tool for change many years ago. They just didn’t work for me. I hated the pressure. I was lucky if I lasted three weeks before returning to old habits and behaviors.
But I still wanted change. I still wanted to feel good about my personal growth and progress. So, what was something fun I could do that would still help me reach my goals?
That’s when I came across the idea of choosing a theme for the year rather than a resolution. A theme can be a very fun and effective way to make positive and long-lasting change.
Themes can be anything you want them to be. You might choose “new experiences” and do one or two things each month that you’ve never done before. You may want to improve your communication skills – so you read one book a month about how to communicate effectively. Perhaps you’re feeling called to spend more time outside, so you schedule hikes and trips to botanical gardens. Maybe you want to meet more people, so you join some meet-up groups, or you want to be of service to others, so you volunteer once or twice a month. You might crave a deeper connection to Self, and you begin a meditation or mindful practice such as Mindful WHEN 6.
Here are a few easy steps to get you going:
The possibilities are endless. So, take some time between now and the New Year to think about different areas of your life in which you would like to see positive change.
Choose one, create a theme and plan fun or interesting activities that reflect that theme.
If you do this for yourself, come December 31, 2020 you’ll have completed and accomplished at least 12 activities that moved your forward in your growth.
My theme for 2020? Broadening my knowledge base of interesting and weird things. My activities? Museums, lectures and one-off experiences that show up on my radar.
I wish you an amazing year of growth, fun and positive change!
Deanna S., MA| WHEN Being Advisor
