New Year New You!

True life is lived when tiny changes occur.
-Leo Tolstoy

For me change always accorded very slowly. It took me about 10 years to find what foods work for me. Its only now at 50 years old that I know what actually resonate with me . I love doing Yoga and working out with weights. When I was younger I absolutely hated working out!! I believe that I got to this place only when I slowed down and started meditating. I was working 50 to 60 hour weeks just not to feel or listen to my body and thoughts.

A lot of people begin the New Year by making resolutions. We’ve all been there. We take a vow to lose weight,exercise more or spend more time with our family. We start the year with great intentions, but then we quickly relapse into old habits. Why is it so hard to stick to those New Year’s resolutions?

Here are some ways you can make your intentions a reality this year:

1. Write down your intentions and keep them in a visible place, like taped to your bedroom mirror or the dashboard of your car.
2. Get to the source of whatever is keeping you in a rut. Are you in a stressful relationship that causes you to eat a pint of Ben & Jerry’s every night? Are you stressed at work and feel too tired to exercise after work? If you don’t tackle the root of the behavior, it will be much harder to accomplish your goal.
3. Be clear about what your life would look like once you achieve your goal. If you resolve to go to
the gym more, how will this benefit you? Get connected to the result of your action, and you will be more likely to stick with your plan.
4. Share your resolutions with friends and family. Hold each other accountable for achieving your
goals. If you want to go to the gym more, have a friend call you two or three times a week to check on you or invite them to join you.
5. Reward yourself with every little accomplishment. If your intention is to lose weight and you lose 1pound a week, pamper yourself with a massage.

Big changes do not require big leaps. Permanent change is more likely to happen gradually than through one big restrictive plan. Allow yourself to climb the ladder one rung at a time.

Happy New Year!