With the holiday season now over, many of us are indulging in retrospection and rethinking some of our life choices. The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to start making the changes we said we would next week, next month or perhaps when winter first started.
Now’s your chance to prepare a list of important lifestyle changes you want to make. Since most people fail to stick to their resolutions, here are some tips to hopefully help you focus in on what you’d like to accomplish in 2023:
START FOCUSING MORE ON HOW FAR YOU’VE COME INSTEAD OF STRESSING ABOUT WHAT’S AHEAD.
The habit of always thinking of “what you need to do” instead of “what you’ve done” dramatically increases your chances of giving up. If you instead focus a little more on what you’ve achieved thus far, the things you’ve learned, the money you’ve made, etc., you won’t feel as powerless looking ahead.
LOOK MORE FOR WHAT IS GOOD IN YOUR LIFE THAN WHAT IS BAD.
Remember that what you focus on the most will grow. What you focus on less tends to shrink in your consciousness. That’s why if you want to manifest more good things in your life, focus more on the positive and less on the negative.
GIVE YOURSELF TIME.
You don’t have to fix everything right now. Sometimes, we feel that if we can’t be “all-in,” then it’s not worth trying or doing at all. For example, you may feel that if you can’t do the full 30 minutes of exercise per day, it’s not worth doing 15. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Give yourself some time and grace to reach your goal. Besides, if you could do everything today, what’s left to work on tomorrow?
REMEMBER THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO “PROVE” YOURSELF.
I think we’ve all fallen into this trap before. If you’re driven enough to set goals and resolutions, it usually means you’re at least somewhat competitive. Pursuing your personal goals with the mindset that you’re being watched adds a layer of stress and anxiety that is counterproductive. You owe nothing to anyone but yourself, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. You don’t have to prove anything to anyone but you.
SEEK HAPPINESS INTERNALLY, NOT EXTERNALLY.
Just because someone else may have more money, accomplishments, etc. doesn’t automatically mean that they’re happy. Many people don’t have much and are tremendously happy. Focus on what matters to you and what it might take for you to
be happy. Happiness is internal, not external. Next time you tell yourself that you need something first to be happy, think again.
DON’T SETTLE FOR “GOOD ENOUGH.”
It sometimes can feel so easy to settle for “good,” but if “great” is what you’re after, don’t be afraid to go for it. Most people have heard the saying, “Good is the enemy of great,” so get inspired to leave “good” behind to achieve your “great.”
PRACTICE GRATITUDE
Make gratitude a habit. The first thing I do each morning, as soon as my eyes open, is say, “Thank you.” I say this for my family, for our health, for having a place to live and food to eat. If you make gratitude a habit, rebounding from setbacks and letdowns becomes easier. It allows you to always keep the things you are thankful for in the forefront of your mind, even in the face of disappointment.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.
Sometimes, we don’t do the things we know we should, like exercise. As a result, we feel guilty. Guilt only deprives you of happiness, so stop feeling guilty and take better care of yourself. Work to find an effective process or ask for the help you need to make your goals reality. Guilt is counterproductive and can make achieving a happier, more fulfilling life more difficult. You’re amazing and you’ve got this — just remember that!
