the anxiety and self-loathing started last month. interspersed between santa commercials and holiday sales were the barrage of weight loss and self-help spots. before the big ball dropped in times square to usher in 2016, the media was already preying on our fears—and predicting our inevitable failure to live up to those grandiose goals we set for ourselves.
“80% of people fail to fulfill their new year’s resolutions.”
and let's be honest. the other 20% are likely chronic over-achievers (you know who you are) who have berated themselves for not doing the other 10 things on their list.
so why even bother?
i am a big believer in visualization, in writing things down, and the magic that can happen when you don’t just think about a desire, a want, a goal—but you commit to it in a tangible way. i have found that, consciously or not, the mere act of announcing that intention to the universe (even if you are the only person who hears it) propels you somehow toward the end goal. sometimes it happens in huge, life-altering ways. but most often it’s little ones that put you on a trajectory and move you ever so slightly in that direction.
and guess what… that’s ok.
yes, you should absolutely think about your goals. look inward and find that fire in your gut. lean back. dream big. and commit yourself fully to whatever it is you are striving for in life or work, personal relationships or self-fulfillment. even buy a stack of power ball tickets for good measure.
but remember to balance those resolutions with respect for yourself and how far you’ve come.
nothing and no one is perfect. screw unattainable goals.
forward progress and baby steps, kindness and compassion, raising people up versus tearing them down, being true to yourself and present in moments that truly matter—that is #winning in my book.
this new year is a gift. and this life of ours, it’s precious. fragile. for anyone who has experienced illness or loss, you know that in a whisper, the blink of an eye, all can be lost.
so in your quest for the better you, don’t forget to celebrate all that you are and have —and every experience that brought you to this moment.
yes, look forward... but live in the now.