For many, the turn of the year is a time of reflection, making resolutions, and beginning again. Certainly, we know there is value in taking inventory and fine tuning how we go forward. Interestingly however, 92% of people who make resolutions forget them or give up on them BEFORE January 31st! Yes, less than a month later, most of us blow them off! With this in mind, it would seem for the majority of us that resolutions are not the best way to a meaningful 2023.
Instead of trying so hard to CHANGE ourselves, what if we considered more how to BE ourselves? What if we went into 2023 with more of an idea of who we are, letting that INFORM our choices and actions? Perhaps a more meaningful start to 2023 would be to identify and practice being ourselves, with a little more intentionality, focus, and energy?
Here are my top three tips for becoming your best self this year!
Identify who you are in small ways.
Examples might include: adventurous, artistic, intelligent, introverted, spiritual, sporty, playful, etc.
Identify what you value.
Examples might include: health, sports, honesty, hard work, friendship, generosity, family, growth, etc
Consider 1-3 practices that would help you be more of what you wrote for the 2 prompts above.
Examples might include: taking a risk once a week, spending one hour in nature, doing a creative project, creating a meal plan, etc.
While no one does health, fitness or weight loss perfectly (nor do we have perfect starts to the new year) we certainly can lean into these important things from a place of strength, connected to ourselves rather than to wishful thinking.
We believe in you and you can do this! From all of us at PFC, cheering you on in a healthy, meaningful and more connected 2023!
Page Lauer, LMFT, CEDS