Be Present!
Sunday, February 21, 2010 at 9:41AM 
I start every new year with a list of resolutions. Really, they don't change much from year to year; they're just little improvements that I would like to make in my life. Come February, I have a vague recollection of what they were, but by that time life has other priorities. At the end of year, I look at my accomplishments and think about what I would like for the next year. The process is quite fun, but I decided to try something different this year.
I'm a little tired of talking about the things I'm planning to do. This year, I decided to just do them. And the key word there is "decide." I decided that I will go to the gym regularly (after years of talking about it) and make plans with my friends more often (instead of saying I will). Cooking dinner at home, rather than ordering take-out became a priority as well. A month and a half into the new year, I notice that my resolutions have stuck.
So what's the difference? The decision. I chose one or two things that will be done at day - going to the gym, finishing a book, calling a friend, going to the grocery store, writing a blog post. There's no bartering, arguing or putting things off. In the mornings I pack my gym clothes because I decide to work out that day. After work, I no longer think of excuses not to go; I have already spent the day knowing it will end with a trip to the gym. I just don't give myself the opportunity to thin of the reasons why I don't want to do these things. Because I have the follow-through, I no longer have remorse about what "I should have done." Of course, there are never enough hours in the day; I would like to accomplish so much more than I do. At the end of the day however, when my energy wanes and I just want to sit on the couch, I have done what I set out to do.
And that's a good feeling.
Reader Comments (1)
I know what you mean. I made 2 resolutions this year: to give up coffee and alcohol to try and have more energy. So far so good!
I think my unspoken one to myself was to create more and work more at what I love!
Amelia.x