I’m not big on new year’s resolutions. I focus more on setting daily intentions and being mindful of my daily habits and practices. And, while I certainly have my ups and downs when it comes to my daily routines and rituals, the journey continues. The focus is on progress, not perfection. Awareness brings to light the want and desire to live a certain way. This awareness and honest self appraisal is what gets me back on track when I have lost my way. I’ve always said, “once you know, you can’t not know.”
Having said that, there are a few things I am committed to that focus on broad themes related to growth and transformation. These themes will guide my daily intentions as I seek alignment between the vision I have for myself and my daily habits, thoughts, words, and actions.
I will engage in meaningful conversations.
I will be more intentional with my time.
I will create more.
I will continue to move my body, still my soul, and grow my mind. Every day.
Call them resolutions, commitments, intentions… call them what you want. At the end of the day its all about how you want to feel on the inside and to consistently do the things that make you feel whole. It’s about doing things that bring you joy, that are healthy, and instill a sense of growth and wonder within. Isn’t that how we all want to feel more often than not.
I suppose the hardest lesson to we can learn from 2020 is that we are exactly where we are supposed to be. Considering how 2020 went, that sounds pretty shitty on the surface. But if you dig a bit deeper, it makes sense.
It makes sense because what choice do you have other than to embrace who you are right here, right now. The magic lies in taking that next step, or for some, that first step, towards what you want, who you want to be, or how you want to feel. Whatever it is that you are seeking, taking that step, while seemingly difficult, is essential. Simply put, you have to take action and you have complete control over the choices you make to do so.
As Shane Parrish puts it, “What you say matters less than what you do. New goals won’t get you different results. Different actions can. Change what you’re doing to change where you’re going.”
The choice we have is how we intend to navigate our way moving forward. January 1 is just another day on the calendar. And, while it is symbolic of a fresh start, it’s really just another day. Maybe it’s ok to use this day as inspiration to make some changes to our lifestyle. I get that. But is today any different than say Tuesday, December 29th or Sunday, January 10th?
I think any day can be day one. This cliché has been used many times over to motivate people to begin again. Those of us who meditate have heard that phrase before… begin again. Refocus on the breath and simply begin again. In some ways, life can be like this as well. Simply close your eyes, slow down, breathe, and begin again.
So, as you take these first steps into 2021, I encourage you to do so with a keen sense of awareness. Eyes, and hearts, and minds wide open. In doing so, you will begin to embrace who and where you are. You will begin to see that you do have choices and options. You will see that there are opportunities that lie in front of you, despite a pandemic. You will begin to know and understand that you are enough and that you are exactly where you are supposed to be. And, when you get to that place, taking that first step won’t seem so damn hard.
If you are struggling with taking that first step, I’d love to have a conversation with you to help you get started. Let’s make today, day one!