On Letting Go

As each new year rolls in, we tend to turn our thoughts to bigger, bolder plans of what we’ll achieve. New changes that we wished we had accomplished the year prior, or stopped and want to revisit again. The new year brings fresh optimism and motivation to “do it differently” this year. So with that note, let’s consider how you might approach this year’s resolutions or intentions differently.

Ditch the Usual

First, start by ditching the typical resolutions. How many times have you tried one of these and never succeeded?

1. Exercise to get in shape

2. Diet to lose weight

3. Save money

4. Eat healthier

5. Self-care

Uplift Your Mindset

Rather than try again, knowing past success rates, consider a new approach that involves a mindset shift that could make all the difference.

1. Move and exercise to feel good, not to be thinner

Movement and exercise require energy, but they also give you more energy, provide healthy endorphins that boost your mood, improve cardiovascular health, increase strength and stamina, and help increase immunity. So for a small investment of time and energy, the dividends are abundant.

2. Skip dieting. They’re created for “every body” but not your body.

Diets are generalized approaches to eating. But your body is not “typical”. Your current weight, health condition, metabolism, gut health, physical limitations, medications and so much more play into how your body gains and loses weight. Rather than get on a popular diet (for the millionth time!), try changing what you eat overall. Start by reducing the amount of processed, packaged foods that contain a number of words you can’t even pronounce, never mind know what they mean! Instead, opt for foods with real ingredients that you can understand. Skip products that contain sugar or bleached/white flours as the first ingredients listed. Instead, opt for more whole grains, less refined sugars and, transition to more veggies and healthy fats. A plant-based, whole-foods way of eating as part of your overall daily lifestyle will go future than just losing weight. You’ll feel better and your body will perform at a higher level.

3. Pay it forward. Give more than money.

The new year is a great opportunity for random acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. Donating money to a cause you believe in is applauded and very needed. But there are definitely a number of other ways to “give” to others and spread joy. Pay it forward in buying the person behind you in line their coffee, lunch, gas, groceries. Helping out a neighbor or community member without being asked. The point is providing your gift of time, caring, attention, effort or . You just might make their day, their week or leave a wonderful impression for life. Plus, you get to walk away feeling good knowing you helped.

4. Focus on healthy food, not the way you look

5. Care for yourself so you can care for others, with full energy and vibrancy.

6. Appreciate everyone’s uniqueness, not their sameness

7. Be authentic. You are who you are — and that’s perfect!

8. Set a good example and live up to it

9. Be curious and non-judgmental

10. Clear the clutter. Provide space for others

11. Focus deeply. Embrace routines. Prioritize results

12. Reconnect and build connections with sincerity and joy

Pick which ones you like and give them a try. Even if only for a month, you’ll likely feel good and glad that you did.

Definitely beats prior new year’s resolutions and feeling like a failure at an unrealistic goal.