Why New Year's Resolutions Fail

When the New Year arrives, many of us are determined to make changes in our lives, and so we set out to make resolutions. Often times many of these resolutions fade away almost as quickly as we write them down and we are left wondering why this happens to us nearly every time we make the attempt to improve ourselves. Some of the most common resolutions involve losing weight, exercising more and eating healthier. I feel the main reason these resolutions fail is because we are coming from an ego point of view rather than from our spiritual selves. If we remain mindful that we are first and foremost spiritual beings, then the notion of hitting the gym 3 times a week or dieting to lose that extra twenty pounds becomes amusing. Why? because perhaps we are doing it for the wrong reasons or maybe we are doing it for the right reasons but going at it the wrong way. If the goal of diet and exercise is so that we can look good to ourselves when we look in the mirror, or in the hope of attracting attention from others, then we are looking at it the wrong way and our intentions will probably fail or at the very least become an unnecessary burden. It is a burden to deprive ourselves of food groups or even individual foods because it's what we "need" to do to lose weight. It's a burden to hit the gym a certain number of times a week because its what is needed in order to look good or be in shape.  I propose forgetting about dieting and exercising. Instead, look at the real goal behind your intention. The goal from the soul. The soul intention is to enjoy the human experience and to learn and grow as much as possible. Because we inhabit a human body we want to make the most out of it in terms of enjoyment and longevity so that  we can  be our soulful selves. Instead of thinking of goals and resolutions, think in terms of experiencing our lives as the spiritual beings we are.

Exercise Goal: 

Moving my body and opening up more of my senses while do so. 

Work: take a break from your work and take a walk outside and enjoy the sights and sounds and smells that surround you wherever you may be, like the sounds of children playing, the smell of food coming street vendors, the windows of stores,dogs barking, the sound of a cars passing etc. You are are fully engaged body and soul. You are in the moment.

Home: making the bed, changing sheets, hauling and putting away laundry, sweeping and cleaning floors, dusting, scooping litter, gardening, the list goes on. In fact, it's never ending in terms of daily chores! By embracing the work of the house you are not just getting exercise (think more here in terms of limbering up and muscle strength vs cardio, unless you have stairs then you get both). You are in soul mode because you are caring for your personal space. You  provide a sanctuary from the outside world for yourself and others in your family. You are giving yourself the gift of a well organized, clean and comfortable surrounding that fits your needs. You are are fully engaged body and soul. You are in the moment.

Whenever You Can:  grab a bike and take a ride along a trail or take a hike or a walk in nature (or a natural surrounding) where it is relative quiet except for the sounds of leaves, birds, running water or the wind, or the rain. Stop and take pictures along the way or pick up pine cones, or seashells, rocks. Feel the warmth of the sun, the smell of the air. Lose track of how long or how fast you have walked or bikes or hiked. Take a yoga class that focuses on mind and body. The ideal is a class that combines stretching your body and meditation. You are are fully engaged body and soul. You are in the moment. Here are a few pointers:

Nutrition Goal:

 Eat For Enjoyment To Satisfy My Body

Practical: eat whole foods and cut down on processed foods and drink lots of water. If you like sweets, make them yourself from scratch so that you can be in the moment of creating something you really like. You may also find yourself eating less sweets because of the effort it takes to create them. Listen to your body and eat when you are hungry. When we are fully engaged in our body and soul, we will naturally eat better foods and less overall. The soul does not operate on the principle of deprivation. Enjoy whatever it is you are eating and be in that moment. Be fully engaged in body and soul.