Business as Usuaal
10 years ago I wrote a blog post called, “Nothing's New Year.” I lamented our resolve to become a new person, only to slip back to old behaviors a few weeks later.
10 years. Such a wild decade. 5 years ago the entire world shifted. We distilled our daily rhythms and discarded that which didn't serve us.
I think we try to do a version of this every year, but nothing quite transform a routine like a global pandemic. We were able to change because the world order itself changed.
The downside to New Year's Resolutions is the idea that we have a blank slate, a fresh start, when we very much do not.
Instead of throwing out everything that has brought us to this point, can we pause to celebrate all that got us here? We are the way that we are because we needed to be that person. We can look at all everything about ourselves that we can pass along because we no longer need that characteristic to protect us, but we should still be grateful for how it did serve us.
We can also take time to be curious. Why do we spend time scrolling instead of reading? Why do we push the snooze button to the last possible second and then wind up late over half the time? Why do we choose not to move our body, even when its crying out for movement? Why do we crave sweets or constantly snack at night?
When we get curious rather than judgemental about our predicament, we begin to figure out why these habits are so hard to break. We determine what we can leave behind and what we might need to hang on to for a bit longer. All without shame.
Imagine - instead of a New Year's Resolution - you spent this next month getting really curious. You start to ask yourself questions. You even spend time visualizing how things could be different if you did, slowly and methodically, make some changes.
How does this make me feel? What would it feel like to try [insert new habit] instead?
Maybe you start to build a vision board. Maybe instead of a laundry list of tasks it became a guidepost for where you might want to go or how you want to feel.
What if, in the dead middle of winter, you paused any new initiatives until the start of Spring? Spring is a much more natural time to pursue these changes anyway.
You can take the next few months to reflect and get cozy and make tiny, incremental changes that slowly guide you to the person you want to be. Let this season guide you to your true self, hidden under years of baggage and trauma and neglect.
Do whatever you want, of course. It's your life. But, if you feel the intentions and Resolutions are slow coming this year, let me give you permission to opt for a slow start.
I have a picture of who I want to be. I have dreams and goals and “concepts of a plan” for the next year.
But this year, for perhaps the first time in my life, it's a lot more of “business as usual.”
I've already done the work to build a blueprint for my life. January 1st is just a fantastic time to stay the course and continue the work I'm already doing. Also, maybe it's a great time to rest like my life depends on it (because it kinda does).
I love a good restart, so I'm going to use this time to “detox” from plenty of things that don't add to the picture I see when I envision my future. I will approach every goal with kindness and grace, sprinkled with reflection.
I hope you build the life you want as well. And if this year is mostly just business as usual, same. And that's okay. ✨️