I’ve always focused on New Year's resolutions, but I decided to ditch them this year.
I’m not sure why I didn’t realize this before, but resolutions don’t work.
It’s like cutting something out of your life cold turkey. For example, you may say you’ll work out five days a week. So, you join a gym, or you want to eat better, so you cut out all junk food. However, most people fall off the bandwagon by mid-January or February.
That is why this year, I am implementing goals instead of resolutions.
I’ve decided to focus on how I want to feel and what I want to experience. The feeling and experience I’m aiming to achieve is joy.
Last July, some of you may know that I had wisdom teeth surgery.I got all four out. I experienced such excruciating pain recovering from it and even cried myself to sleep one night.
If that wasn’t bad enough, I got into a bad car accident on August 25th in my apartment complex. In fact, I can see my car accident scene right from my living room.
Unfortunately, I broke my tailbone. I’ll spare you the gory details, but let’s just say the pain was so unbearable as I wasn’t able to go to the bathroom properly for about two weeks.
I ended up in the ER twice and had to take a leave of absence from my teaching job as a result. Fortunately, I am doing so much better and have started to go back to my gym classes, which I was doing six days per week before the accident.
Let’s just say, a lot of obstacles were thrown my way last year. I know it’s been a tough few years for many. That’s why this year, I invite you to embrace life with joy (or find things that light you up).
Here are some ways I do this:
Find what fulfills you. For me, it’s working out at the gym. I am still recovering from my car accident, and I’m not 100% pain-free, but I’m fortunate I can go two days a week. Another thing that brings me joy is Facetiming with my niece.
Surround yourself with people who lift you up. I encourage you to think about the relationships in your life. Is there anyone that’s draining your energy? If so, reevaluate these relationships and whether you still want them in your life.
Enjoy the small moments in life. I look outside more often. I especially love to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, when looking out my living room window, I can see my car accident scene. I have had to reframe my thinking, and it’s helped me to enjoy life a whole lot more. I also savor the first sip of my favorite Starbucks drink. I’m not a coffee fan, so it’s usually a salted caramel hot chocolate, green tea lemonade, or Meena drink, as I call it – essentially chocolate milk.
Find gratitude all around you. . Instead of looking out my window and being angry about my car accident and recovery, I look out each day, and I am grateful to be alive. What are you grateful for?
When making a decision, ask yourself, “Will this bring me joy?” I will be honest. I am not the best at making decisions. However, one thing that has helped me is answering the above question when I need to make a decision. If the answer is ‘no’, I reevaluate if I should be doing this or choosing this route. Of course, there are things you’ll have to do that might not bring you joy like going to the doctor or taking your car for service. However, for the most part, you can bring joy into your life by asking yourself the question above.
These are the ways I’m striving to bring more joy to my life as I move forward into 2022. What will you do?
Also, as a bonus, I’d love for you to snag my free goal-setting PDF document to help you Kick Start Your New Year Off Right.
I’m here for you, and I’m rooting for you! I want nothing but the best for you in 2022. Embrace life with joy because it’s the only way to live.
Comment below, and let me know what you will do to bring more joy into your life.
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