A New Spin on New Year's Resolutions

I’ve never been one to make New Year’s Resolutions.

The idea that a simple date change could be a powerful motivator just never made much sense to me. It seemed to be an excuse to “let go” from October through December, only to return to taking care of ourselves in January. And it was clear that most people’s resolutions failed by February anyway, which served to demotivate them to make any further changes and then commit to trying it all over again the following year.

If we don’t make resolutions, what do we do instead?

Two years ago, I was in a bookstore in an eclectic neighborhood in Baltimore and was drawn to the cover on one of the books. I started reading the first few pages and was intrigued.

Instead of making an uninspired (and, often overwhelming) “to do” list at the turn of each new year, the author suggested we identify how we want to FEEL. Then, get curious about what we’d have to do to feel that way and do that more often.

The process of doing this is what Danielle LaPorte, author of The Desire Map, calls declaring our “core desired feelings.”

How do you want to FEEL?

Feelings can be a taboo topic in the workplace, but all of us have them (even the people you swear don't), and they influence our behaviors significantly more than logic does.

When the new year comes, we tend to set goals like, "I'm going to lose 20 pounds" but don't think about WHY we want to do that. We could ask a follow-up question like, "How do you think you'll feel with 20 fewer pounds?" The person might respond, "I'll feel energized, free, more confident, etc." The next question might look something like, "What could you do or what do you do that has nothing to do with weight loss that makes you feel more energized? Free?" In response, they may come up with other examples like "I feel free when I dance or when I'm swimming." The focus would then shift from "losing weight" to "dancing or swimming to feel free / energized." The outcome may (and likely) would be some weight loss, but the person doesn't have to wait to feel energized or free; they can experience it immediately. That's a lot more motivating than being held hostage by the number on the scale.

Over the past two years, I’ve wanted to feel RADIANT, WORTHY, CONNECTED, FLOWING, CLEAR, ABUNDANT, and FREE. As a result, I started to think about what would make me feel that way.

From the incredible communities I’ve joined, I’ve received connection, reminders of my worthiness, and permission to radiate. I’ve met and aligned with dozens of incredible professionals within and outside of my field, and we are collectively bringing hope, kindness, health and wellbeing to the workforce. I’ve been drawn to new friendships that make me feel loved and safe. My husband and I found a new small group to join through our church and have made new friendships through that as well. I’ve become part of an incredible community of women and men committed to finding joy and freedom through movement at Movement Lab in Baltimore.

I’ve pursued and have been given countless opportunities to radiate, get in "flow", and connect with people by speaking to organizations, human resources professionals, my church community, and the public through presentations, retreats, and cooking demonstrations. SIG, my employer for the past decade, has supported my growth and given me freedom to pursue my passions to support our clients, so they can become employers of choice, just like us.

I received recognition from WELCOA that identified me at the #1 Health Promotion Professional in the U.S. from a pool of over 200 of my peers and was invited to speak at a national conference last spring. I’m honored to have become a recognized expert in my field and in my community and am grateful to be in a position of leadership and influence.

I started to feel how I wanted to feel, and what I was hoping would happen did. I received infinitely more than I had imagined was possible. 

My husband, Bill, declared ENERGIZED, MOTIVATED and ACCOMPLISHED as his core desired feelings. (He wasn't exactly stoked to do this exercise at first but went along with it and was happy with the outcome!). He said he wanted to spend more intentional time with a group of guys from our church, who are honest, supportive, fun, and willing to be vulnerable. They meet on a monthly basis and get together in between to play and watch sports, grab a beer, or share a meal.

Bill said that training for and completing a triathlon would help him feel how he wanted to feel, too, so, he committed to doing that as well. In July of 2016, he became an Ironman after completing a grueling 140.6-mile course of swimming, biking and running with my dad in Lake Placid, New York.

The other day, he and I continued our New Year’s Day tradition of reflecting on the moments and memories of the previous year and identify our core desired feelings.

Throughout the year, we write these memories on little pieces of paper and put them in a glass jar that we empty out on New Year’s Day. We write all of them down in a journal and then add any others that we forgot to record. Finishing graduate school, paying off our student loans, Bill completing the Ironman, having my articles published in mindbodygreen, welcoming the births of our friends’ babies, renovating our kitchen, and reminiscing about the trips we took.

We take time to celebrate all that happened and reflect on the memorable moments that were sad as well. We think about what we are leaving behind in 2016 and not taking into 2017, what we are letting go and releasing. And we identify how we want to feel in the coming year.

My core desired feelings have changed a bit this year, but some have remained the same.

For much of my life, I’ve taken things too seriously, been embarrassed by and uncomfortable with silliness, focused too much on striving and doing and not enough on just living and being. I haven’t made playfulness a priority.

I feel PLAYFUL when I’m dancing, doing Nia and AntiGravity (pic below!), playing games, spending time with little kids, being silly with Bill, getting surprise gifts for people, going on travel and food adventures to new places, blowing bubbles, jumping on a trampoline, skipping, walking on the beach, splashing in the water, hanging out with playful people, and laughing until it hurts.

I feel FREE and OPEN when I’m speaking my truth, as I’m doing here. I feel free and open when I dance, speak, present, teach, leave cushion in my schedule, spend time with friends who love and celebrate me, dream about the future, offer grace, forgive, overcome fears, go for a run on a beautiful day, spend time in nature, hike, give of our finances, and de-clutter my physical space.

I feel RADIANT when I present about a topic that I’m passionate about, write and speak from my soul, dance and twirl like a joyful little girl, wear a brightly colored outfit, serve others, and share my story and invite others to share theirs.

I feel DEEPLY CONNECTED when I spend undistracted (i.e., iPhoneless), quality time with people I love, have phone calls or meet-ups with close friends, go away on retreats and have time to reflect, go on getaways to new places with my husband, grab a meal with a friend, or have a soul-baring conversation with someone who trusts me and feels safe enough to share with me.

That’s how I want to feel this year. PLAYFUL, OPEN, FREE, RADIANT, and DEEPLY CONNECTED.

Now, it’s your turn. Drop your New Year’s Resolutions, and do this instead.

1. Ask yourself how you want to feel in 2017. Come up with 3-5 words. If you need help with ideas, click here.
2. Decide what you’ll do to generate those feelings. What do you do or can you do to make yourself feel that way? Refer to my lists above for some ideas.
3. If you want to create one of the cool word picture images like the one you see above, download the free Word Swag app here. If you do, post it in my Facebook page and/or tag me on Instagram! I’d love to see what you create.

I wish you peace, joy, health and happiness in 2017!

Want to watch a video summary of our New Year’s tradition? Check out my video below.