About 15 years ago, I can remember a simple resolution I made to myself: Make my bed the moment I got out of it, everyday. To this day, no matter how busy, I straighten out the pillows, pull the sheets over and give a firm brush of the hand to smooth out the wrinkles. Some days I take a little more care and precision to the task (and truth be told, sometimes it’s my husband who makes it ;-). Ultimately, making the bed brings a sense of calm and structure to the room and my day.
As I prepare to facilitate my Resolution to Reality workshop, I’ve been reflecting on this simple goal that has remained a habit all these years, wondering…Why did I succeed at that resolution but fail at others? It seems the moment I create a resolution that involves taking something away (i.e.: food) or with a high expectation (i.e.: lose x number of pounds), I immediately set myself up for failure.
Resolutions are meant to set the tone for the year but setting one based on weight loss, restriction and calorie counting creates negative vibes as you head into January. So, as you get ready for 2013, try to reframe those resolutions to be more positive. Here are my top ten ideas to move you away from the dieting mindset and into a more successful and self-loving year:
- Remove the scale as a measurement of your success. Instead, make it about feeling good through improved health, more energy and/or reduced stress.
- Do not renew magazine subscriptions or buy them from grocery store checkouts. The airbrushed pics and hyped-up articles on the latest diet or celebrity beauty tricks only make us feel bad about ourselves and cause us to be more self-deprecating.
- Focus on self care at least once a day. Find something to indulge in that is entirely devoted to you.
- Set a positive affirmation for yourself and say it to yourself each morning. We say it to others all the time, but the simplest mantra you can say to yourself is “I love you”. You might not believe it at first but saying it regularly will make it more true.
- Move away from the diet mentality. Instead, decide to become more intuitive with your eating choices through being present at mealtimes.
- Assess eating choices as supportive versus non-supportive, as opposed to negative self judgments of good versus bad.
- Join a self esteem and positive body image forum. Surround yourself with positive thoughts and discussions that lead you to love your body as it is now.
- Be mindful of body image related comments you discuss in front of children. Instead, let them hear you making positive statements about who you are, inside and out.
- Fat is not a feeling! Search for the true feeling you feel when ever that self critical “I feel fat” comment pops up.
- Forget the “Exercise Rules” and look for fun in your active lifestyle, defining what “active” means to you. One woman’s pleasure (running, as an example) is another woman’s poison (idea of pure torture). Look for activities that make you smile, that you find easy to incorporate into your routine and changes your overall well being.
These ideas are meant to get you thinking on a different resolution path. A path that is kinder and doesn’t involve the words diet, detox or deprivation. So…I want to know….What other ideas do you have for setting positive resolutions for your New Year? Or, how are you going to make one of the above ideas applicable to your 2013 self-improvement plan?
Leave a Reply