Divine Wellness by Traci A. Fonville

New Year, Better You!

True life is lived when tiny changes occur.

-Leo Tolstoy

Most 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 difficult?

The word resolution is defined as “a firm decision to do or not do something”. So in order to change the New Year’s narrative from breaking resolutions (i.e. temporary decisions) to setting goals and making lifestyle changes, here are some ways you can jumpstart the new year with solid intentions leading to future results:

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 binge on a pint of ice cream every night? Are you overworked and too tired to exercise? 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 1 pound 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. Take some time to really connect to your why. Why do you want to lose weight? Start a new business? Change jobs? Write down the pros and cons of each decision and decide if it’s something you want or need to focus on in the new year. Your why will catapult you into the new year more focused and determined to make your intentions and lifestyle changes become permanent mainstays in your life. And remember to be kind to yourself! A misstep on the ladder to a better you does not mean defeat… just means you’re learning!

Happy New Year!

Traci A. Fonville is a board certified holistic health coach, a graduate of the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and a registered yoga teacher. She is the owner of I Affirm Wellness, which specializes in health coaching and beginner yoga classes. She is a Wellness Advocate for dōTERRA Essential Oils and a Brand Ambassador for ItWorks! Follow Traci on Instagram and Facebook @iaffirmwellness. Log onto her websites for health and wellness products at www.mydoterra.com/iaffirmwellness and www.iaffirmwellness.myitworks.com.