New Year Resolutions

2023 is upon us. Today marks the beginning of a New Year, and for most people the start of new year resolutions – commitments made to do something different, become something better, start something new, and let somethings go.

We anticipate what 2023 could look like. We are hopeful that these changes will help to make 2023 our best year yet, and we are excited to experience the outcome of the goals we have set for ourselves.

But if I may, I’d like to encourage you to be watchful for obstacles and setbacks that may impede and slow your progress. Be conscientious of what you are thinking, be considerate of how you are feeling and be alert to what you are doing – or not doing.

If you find you are discouraged along the way, determine what happened. What was the event that influenced your interpretation of what is going on. Explore whether or not the meaning you are assigning to this event is accurate. Examine your thoughts, to determine if what you are thinking is true – Put your thoughts on trial. Find the evidence that will validate or invalidate what you are thinking. Remember your thoughts are just that – a thought. They are not facts. Be aware of this trap, as your thoughts create feelings and feelings create behaviors that reinforce your thoughts.

Let me give you an example: If I make the commitment to lose weight and change a behavior -eat healthy – but I blow it. I eat chocolate cake. My thoughts may sound like this: “I can’t believe you ate that cake. I am never going to lose weight. I am such a failure. I might as well give up.” I feel upset. I feel hopeless, which leads me to continue to engage in behaviors -not eating healthy, which reinforces my thought that I am a failure.

If you want to be successful with your commitments to change you made in 2023, you will need to be able to distinguish between your thoughts, feelings and behaviors and make changes -maybe your thoughts need to be redirected, or you need to stop the behaviors that are making things worse. Whatever the case may be, this is a skill that is necessary -and must be practiced when dealing with challenges we will face in this new year.

Are you ready? Let’s make 2023 our best year yet!