Happy New Year! I know of people who begin the new year with resolutions for what habits they plan to break and growth they plan to make. “New Year, New Me” they chant! I know of others that refuse to make New Year’s Resolutions. Perhaps they have experienced failure in previous years and felt frustrated as they end up making the same resolutions year after year- not having experienced a shift in the behaviour they desire to change. Others cite statistics, that 92% of New Year’s Resolutions will fail!
I get it. It is discouraging to set a goal and fail. Why do that to yourself??? Nobody likes defeat! However, the reason to set a goal is not about the end result you desire, it is more about the journey you are on. You can’t steer a parked car. Michael Hyatt, the author, said, “Don’t fear failure. Fear being in the exact same place next year that you are today.” But will setting a goal on the first of the year really change our future self? It depends on why we are doing it, and the support we have to move toward this new future self.
Nelson Mandela said that “there is no passion to be found in living a life that is less than the one that you are capable of living.” Setting goals can create energy and focus in self-transformation. Last year I participated in a 16 week “Body Transformation” challenge. I’m not kidding myself, I am 55 years old and don’t expect to be retiring from chiropractic to take up a career doing swimwear photoshoots that show off a new “beach ready body”. That being said, the energy I put into that physical transformation led me to push myself in ways I would not have- improving my health in a variety of ways and allowing me to enjoy more energy and focus in my day. Without setting that goal, I would not have made that progress, and my waist line would be 6 inches more than it was at the end of 2017. (Men’s waist line measurement is an indicator of stored visceral fat which dramatically affect many areas of physical health).
It does not have to happen January 1, but I would encourage you to set goals. You are always one decision away from a totally different life. Goals are successful when they are set with proper support. Connecting yourself to people striving for the same goals will help. Set specific and achievable steps in the goal. A vague goal of “getting in shape” will never happen. Plan specific times and types of activities you will do that are achievable. It is best when you can attach a new desired behaviour to a previously existing habit in your life. Perhaps there is a television show you regularly enjoy watching. You could perform an activity during the show (eg. a certain number of calisthenics), or not allow yourself to watch the show until after you have completed a specific task (read a chapter in a book, tidied up the house, packed your lunch for tomorrow). What habits would your future self like you to develop? I don’t think anyone comes to the end of their life and wishes they had watched more television. What new habits would transform you? It is never to late to set a goal.
If an area you desire transformation is in the realm of health and fitness, join us for our “All About Fitness” workshop January 16, 2018 and/or our “Sip & Sample” workshop January 23, 2018 to learn about weight loss, energy, athletic performance and healthy aging. As they say, if you wear your body out, WHERE are you going to live?
Okay, I’ll share my “Before & After” Pictures with you. Transformation. I’m telling you, 6 inches from the waist is worth it…
