Motivational Article

Here it is again, that time of year when we all promise
ourselves to become a better person.
We promise to lose those extra 10 kilos, to stop smoking and
gossiping, to watch less TV and do something meaningful with
our time.

However it seems, that these New-Year's resolutions are made
only to be broken two months later.

Just visit your local gym on a Monday night in early January,
and you'll have to fight the crowds who are tackling the
equipment with fierce determination. Then, visit the same
facility on a Monday night two months later and you'll have
plenty of space complete with your choice of machines.
These get-in-shape-lose-ten-kilos-be-disciplined-bla-bla
declarations simply have evaporated.

Here are a few common reasons why these resolutions do not
stick:

1. Making the Goal More Important Than the Vision

   We tend to put our goals (physical result) before setting
   our vision (value), which is like putting the cart before
   the horse. When you are focused on the goal and disregard
   your vision, even upon the achievement of your goal, you
   are left with that residual empty feeling of "what was
   the point anyway".

2. Forgetting What is Truly Important

   New-Year's resolutions fail when they are focused on
   outer cravings rather than respect for your inner wishes.
   Taking the ten kilos weight loss for example; is it really
   about fitting into your old jeans? Or is it about honoring
   your body and yourself? How about the reduced time in
   front of the TV commitment? Is the goal simply reducing
   the amount of hours in front of the tube? Or, is it
   instead, about creating time to spend with your family,
   breaking the mind abusing TV habit, or learning something
   new?

3. Focusing On the Process Rather Than the End Result

   We usually focus more on HOW to realize our goal than on
   the goal itself.
   If you focus on getting the money in order to buy that
   Special Something, change your focus to having that
   Something. This will open many more possibilities than
   only buying one...

4. Focusing On What You Haven't Yet Achieved

   We tend to pursue what we haven't yet achieved rather
   than asking ourselves: "What is TRULY important for me
   this year?" By doing that, you are walking towards your
   future, facing your past. Meaning walking with your back
   toward your desired direction. In this way, many
   possibilities available to you are missed, as you limit
   yourself to what you already know.

5. Making Complicated and Vague Resolutions

   When we are afraid to commit ourselves, we tend to babble
   some incoherent sentences simply for the sake of making a
   resolution, rather than seriously intending to manifest
   something real. Your mind however, needs a specific image
   of your resolution with which to work towards
   manifestation. Therefore instead of hoping to "make a lot
   of money" or "create more free time for myself", give
   attention to detail by specifying what exactly you intend
   to create. Write it down as a precise figure. For example
   "I make xxx amount of money next year" or "I have xxx
   hours free for myself per week".

This year, before you declare your New-Year's resolutions,
create clarity for yourself of what is TRULY important for
you. Here are some questions to reflect on:

1. What were the five most important lessons you learned
   this past year? How can you use these lessons in the
   coming year?

2. What are you willing to BE this coming year? Not what you
   want to DO or Have. Are you willing to be more courageous?
   More loving? More patient? More peaceful?

3. What practices will you integrate into your life next
   year? And why do they matter? Commit yourself to growing
   in ways that will honor who you are.

4. What intentions will support your life mission? What do
   you want to be engaged in that will reinforce your sense
   of purpose and your core belief system?

5. What can you do next year that will bring more joy and
   fulfillment into your daily life? How can you acknowledge
   and celebrate the big and little things that appear every
   single day?


Wishing you a Happy New Year.
Make it a time for growth, wonder and positive intentions.