Until this year, I never made goals for the new year. I was the yearly cynic who took a back seat on the resolution train – actually, I wasn’t even on the train. I was on a different one: the one that says “Resolutions suck because they don’t stick and I’ll just fail at them.” Would you like to hop onboard that train?
Me either, Raven.
But here’s the deal: The beginning of the year is an ideal time for us to set goals. The year is a squeaky clean whiteboard and you are the marker: you have a bold mark to leave and an amazing story to write. We just have to get down with the motivation behind our goals. When we sit down to write what we want for ourselves in 2013, we are quick to say “more money,” “more health,” “more greens,” “more time for myself,” etc. There is nothing wrong with these goals. The key factor here, though, is to stop and think about why we want these goals for ourselves. I encourage you to take a step back. Grab your eraser and wipe away your goals for a second. Clear that whiteboard.
I often talk about shifting your prespective from a “What can I get?” to a “What can I give?” mentality. Listing goals like the ones above is great but they often come from that “What can I get?” mentality; and if there’s anything we know about that perspective, it’s that we are never truly satisfied in the end. We have to provide a solid mental foundation before we can write out these goals. So, I want you to grab a piece of paper and your fanciest pen. Put on some tunes and free-write to this question:
Seriously; go! Then, come back here.
…how good did that feel to get your stuff out on paper? What did you write? Here’s what I wrote
I want to feel:
- Inspired
- Loved
- Passionate
- Sexy in my skin
All beautiful things right? Absolutely. Now, turn that music back on and let your mind go. Free-write what makes you feel the way you want to feel. GO!
….now we’re getting somewhere. What did you write? Here’s what makes me feel the way I want to feel:
- Inspired
- Studying A Course in Miracles
- Meditation
- Prayer
- Yoga
- Blogging & vlogging
- Playing piano / singing
- Loved
- Studying A Course in Miracles
- Meditation
- Blogging & vlogging
- Responding to emails
- Spending time with people I love
- Counseling others
- Passionate
- Studying A Course in Miracles
- Meditation
- Writing
- Cooking
- Music
- Being with Matty
- Sexy in my Skin
- Eating plant-based
- Practicing yoga, pilates, and barre
- Meditation
- Being organized
- To Stay Inspired in 2013, I will:
- Continue studying A Course in Miracles
- Film one vlog per week based on a principle from A Course in Miracles
- Continue J’adore la vie!
- Continue a daily practice of yoga, prayer, and meditation
- To Love Myself in 2013, I will:
- Make a conscious effort to bring love to every situation
- To Stay Passionate in 2013, I will:
- Create at least one new recipe per week
- Start the May Cause Miracles book club & the other new, upcoming project (!!!)
- To Feel Sexy in My Skin in 2013, I will:
- Reduce my gluten intake and remove salty foods from my life. Neither serve me or make me feel good.*
- All of the above.
This could take you minutes; this could take you hours; this could take you days. It took me about a week! Regardless, I encourage you to hold yourself accountable and let’s start a discussion: how do you want to feel in 2013? If you’ve got your goals and feel comfy sharing them here, do it up! My girl Danielle Laporte and my soul brother Mastin Kipp really inspired me to get behind what I was feeling this year and create a list of achievable goals to propel me forward into the New Year. I know that I can do this because I buy what I’m selling to myself. In other words, I resonate with the feeling behind my goals.
Okay, I’m going to cut the ramble session cord here. I hope this blog finds you well and I can’t wait to see what feelings you want to feel this year, what your affirmations are, and what goals you’re going to set. The world is OURS to conquer so let’s do it!
Stay lovely,
Heather
*Note: In regards to gluten, no, I do not have celiac disease. I do, however, have a pretty intense sensitivity to gluten. When I eat products containing gluten, my head feels foggy and I become severely tired to the point where I want to go to sleep soon after eating the food. This does not serve me, which prevents me from acting in a way that I can best serve others. Salty snacks have a similar effect on me. I feel bloated and fatigued when I consume them. Notice how I said reduce. I’m not omitting completely because – let’s be real – I love a Wildflour cookie and I love popcorn. I’m sure that I’ll consume both of those a handful of times this year. And I’m more-than okay with that. It’s a viable goal that serves me well.
I love this list Heather and I think I’m going to have to do some work of my own on creating something like this for me. I love the focus on how you want to feel vs. what you need to accomplish or do.
So glad it resonates with you, Danielle! I can’t wait to see you on a weekly basis! xoxo
LOVE YOU and this post!! We are so on the same wavelength. I am behind you 110% and we can ALL do this with PIZAZZ. BOOM girl. xoxooxo fo’evaaaa
PERFECTLY said, my beautiful friend. I just love you!
love your list! I wanted to write a new years goal/intentions post but I haven’t been able to figure out exactly what I want in 2013, so I will definitely be sitting down to write out this list soon.
Awesome, Amy! I can’t wait to see what you dip into.
I love this post! I wrote my post about things I will accomplish in 2013 today also!
Yes! Love love love. Soul sisters!
This is an amazing post BB. I love this step by step approach and how you spelled everything out and showed your readers how so many steps to your positive outcomes and wishes overlap. Really highlights the fact that it is easier than one may initially think to add more love and -ing to daily life. I know this is going to help SO many!
Thanks so much bb! I love you.
Maybe loosen up and don’t try for eating perfection! Relaxation rather than bsessive clean eating (now removing gluten and salt) you’re young and I’ve been down the obsessive path and it doesn’t bring joy it just limits freedom to eat what you crave and treats food as its the all encompassing control over ones life. Less thought on food intake and more thought on more important things is what brings joy . Live in the moment
Just my two cents
Thanks for your comment, Jessica! I appreciate your concern. Seeing my history and recovery from an ED, I can see why you’d say that. Believe you me, I don’t strive for perfection. No such thing.
Believe it or not, I feel more free than ever. As mentioned, I’m not omitting or restricting…and I’m not trying to eat for perfection. I’m simply edging out the stuff that doesn’t serve me and eating more of the stuff that does. I love my life and I love the way I eat because I feel alive! xo
Heather, I LOVE this. Son on point with my take on resolutions too – this year I set intentions and positive affirmations instead. Feels so good to go deep and ask yourself, “What do I really want?” “How do I want to feel?” That’s one of the #1 things I ask my clients: How does that make you feel? How do you want to feel? What makes you feel this way?
Another fabulous post, lady!
Thank you so much, Rachel! That really means so much to me.
You’re a blessin!
I love the way you’ve outlined everything!! Instead of making a zillion fitness goals for myself, I’m centering around WHY I want to work out. And you nailed it! Feeling Sexy In My Skin!! Happy New Year, can’t wait to see what 2013 brings to you. Or rather, you bring in 2013.
love this post girl!! sounds like you are the right track for a great year
LOVE THIS. So positive and I love the approach to look at what to GIVE and how to FEEL rather than to what to get. So simple and so wonderful!!! I am far from pushing myslef through a forced career or a complete restrictive diet, but I do have some goals I want to achieve – with this spelling I know I can achieve them with peace. Thank you so much for this!
Love the sexy in my skin!
This is great, I need a template like this to help me really think through what I want, and also how to get there!
What a great, inspiring exercise. These are the type of positive things that we all need to be focused on in the new year. Thanks for sharing!
LOVE this! Love how easy you make it and how you show examples of yourself. Amazing, as always!
I loved this! It honestly helped me look at New Years resolutions in a completely different perspective and it was just what I needed. I’m working on my goals right now, but what I want to feel include: inspired, excited for tomorrow, happy with my body, appreciative, loved, and passionate. Thank you for this post; our mind frame is so similar!
day-maker comment right here, hailey! you’re amazing. so happy for you.
xoxo
I adore this way of thinking, you are SO on the road to many more amazing adventures this year! As for me, in 2013, I want to feel *me*. Simple as that, but I want to get to know what I can do, who I can be, and nurture that person.
<3 happy new year!
Rachel! Thank you so much for your support. It means so much to me, friend! Your goals are beautiful. Keep engaging in things you love, be around people who lift you higher, and eat in a way that nurtures your body. I know that you’re going to figure it all out because you have that beautiful willingness.
[...] New Year, New Goals: How Do You Wanna Feel? <– Amazing! A plan and an example of how you’ll actually achieve your goals! [...]
Thanks for this great post! Thinking about how I want to FEEL this year helped me to realize that my goal of increasing my income, while not a bad goal, won’t make me feel content or at peace on it’s own…that’s attitude and perspective!
Wow. This is amazing, Kelsa! Kudos to you for figuring this out.
xo
[...] reading this blog post, I thought Heather’s strategy of outlining how I feel and then breaking it down into more [...]
I love this! Such a new perspective on goal making and so much more effective than saying “I want to do XYZ”. I will definitely use this method for my future goals!
[...] For the Kale~ New Year, New Goals: How Do You Wanna Feel [...]
[...] about embracing the things that make me thrive … the things that make me feel sexy. I have a sexy in my skin update for you! I’m on day seven of my goal to continue my reduced (read: not omitted!) [...]