You can not believe it! This is really happening. Everything is so exciting. There is so much promise. There is so much enthusiasm. You are ready to commit. Time passes. Life begins to settle back into old habits and patterns. Soon there are excuses to why you just can't commit. The enthusiasm fades. You are ready to throw in the towel.
Sounds like a majority of relationships we have all experienced at least once in our lifetime! But this is no ordinary relationship. It is not the courting of two people in love. This is personal. It is the relationship between you and that resolution you made at midnight January 1st. You made it with all the best intentions and you were determined to follow through this year. This wasn’t going to be like the last time! Oh no! You were ready for success!
Success is still with in your reach. Do not give up now. Just when you want to throw in that towel is when you want to really take a minute, breath and get ready to recommit.
How is that possible? Let’s go over a few simple ways to keep that promise to your self.
First, look at the ‘resolution’ you made. A majority of us make a bold, all-or-nothing yet vague, statement. Though it is made with good intention, it is ussually a set up for failure. Instead look at what you want to accomplish this year and break it up into smaller more manageable goals that really mean something to you. Take for example the classic “I am going to loose weight!” This is good if you are looking to do so but what does loosing weight mean to you? Is it a number on the scale or a shape change? Maybe it is about fitting a pair of pants that you haven’t fit in 3 years. REWORD it so it becomes a series of small goals that can be achieved over an extended, manageable period of time. Example; “I am going to loose 20 lbs this year by loosing 4 lbs each month for the next 5 months”. Simply put, when you first start to feel like there is no way to go forward with what the resolution you have made, stop, breath and REWORD your resolution into a more meaningful goal(s) that you really feel you can own and manage over time.
Second, SLOW AND STEADY wins the race. The fable of the tortuous and the hare is a great example. Sure the enthusiasm, and gung-ho attitude gets you going at first but it becomes very exhausting to maintain. Besides, most of us really do not have our entire day every day, to devote all our energies into one area of our being. We have lives, family, friends, and a job! Those require our energy and attention too. By first REWORDING your resolution and then remembering to take it SLOW AND STEADY, you can begin to relax about fitting your new goal into your hectic schedule. Take it one step at a time, knowing each step is a step forward towards reaching your goal.
Finally, CELEBRATE VICTORIES. Matthew Kelly author of “The Rhythm of Life” states that the human spirit thrives on victories. So big or small, CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORIES. If your goal was to loose weight, then every meal you eat that is healthy and full of whole foods and unprocessed items, is a victory! Each time you enter the gym, and stay and workout (no matter what the duration) is a victory! The big pay off of seeing that number on the scale may be your ideal but each small step along the way aided in the success of that weight coming off and staying off. Being victorious in all you do will pump you up, keep you motivated and help you stay focused on what it is you want to achieve.
Reword your resolution, take it step by step and celebrate victories. These are 3 simple ways to recommit to a resolution that was made with excitement and the promise to commit. The relationship you have with your resolution is not over. It was just a little speed bump. Take a deep breath and recommit. You haven’t thrown in the towel yet! Take that towel shove it in your gym bag and 30 minutes later celebrate the victory of yet another workout that assisted you in achieving that resolution to loose weight!
Inspiration to take action today: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” --Confucius
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