Happy New Year! A New Year is always an exciting time, filled with anticipation of what’s to come and goals for our future selves in the form of New Year’s Resolutions. Before you make those resolutions, however, there are three important things to think about.
This podcast was recorded in January 2022 and the post has been updated for 2023.
New Year, New You?
Anyone who knows me will know I’m not a huge fan of the ‘New Year, New Me’ message. After all, there’s nothing wrong with the old you in the first place! This first episode of season two looks at three things to consider before falling into the New Year, New Me trap.
1. Change is gradual
No author decides that their main character is going to completely change from one chapter to the next, and your book of life shouldn’t be any different! Characters in books go through a journey that creates incremental and lasting change, and your life is the same.
None of us are going to wake up one day and suddenly be a different person, it takes time. I’d never be able to wake up one day as a marathon runner because I don’t run full stop. Sure, I can train to become a marathon runner but it’s not going to happen overnight.
Ask yourself if your New Year’s Resolution is realistic and what expectations you’re setting yourself. You can also break it into smaller, more achievable goals if needs be.
2. Look how far you’ve come
It can be so easy to fall into the trap of only focusing on the future and whatever our next goal is, but what about what we’ve already achieved? It’s such an important part of New Year’s for me; reflecting on how far I’ve come.
It’s human nature to only ever want to focus on the next goal and the next, to the point we kind of forget how much we have already accomplished. So, before setting your New Year’s Resolutions, spend a little bit of time reflecting on everything you achieved and all of your gratitudes for last year.
3. Find your why
Finally, I introduce a little self-coaching exercise in the podcast episode to help you find your why. Finding the real crux of what you want to change leads to more lasting change, and it’s an amazing way to create a resolution that will really work for you.
Think about why you want whatever it is you want. The example I give is weight loss – do you really want to lose weight or do you just want to start feeling good about yourself?
Do spend some time with this exercise and see what a difference it makes to set your New Year’s Resolution based on the why as opposed to any surface issue.
I hope that whatever your resolution or goals this year, that 2023 brings you plenty of peace, happiness and love. Want to feel inspired? Check out these New Year’s resolution quotes to help you feel empowered.
Want to nourish yourself this New Year? Take part in our Little Moments of Gentle Joy this month for just 99p. See the full schedule and take part here.
