Why Don’t My New Years' Resolutions Stick?

Ian Hawkins 0:02

Are you ready, ready to release internal pain to find confidence, clarity and direction for your future, to live a life of meaning, fulfillment and contribution to trust your intuition again, but something's been holding you back, you've come to the right place. Welcome. I'm a Ian Hawkins, the host and founder of The Grief Code podcast. Together, let's heal your unresolved or unknown grief by unlocking your grief code. As you tune into each episode, you will receive insight into your own grief, how to eliminate it and what to do next. Before we start by one request, if any new insights or awareness land with you during this episode, please send me an email at info at the Ian Hawkins coaching.com. And let me know what you found. I know the power of this word, I love to hear the impact these conversations have. Okay, let's get into it.

Let's talk New Year's resolutions. Plenty of noise at the start of the year around this. I remember my young fellow just a few days ago saying that the gym gets chock as full for January, people everywhere but by probably mid February, it's back to normal and got me thinking like there's so much noise out there about the right way or the wrong way. It's like let's have a look at why they don't stick. They usually we put in place these really strict and set goals and resolutions. And one of the challenges is there's no flexibility. And then we go on but I said this I've got to stick to it. Because there's that adage shine a Wednesday quit. That's sort of a slight well, sometimes it's not about quitting sometimes it's like how much longer you can bang your head against that same wall and try and get a result when you need to actually change directions. Sometimes it is good to quit when when you actually taking the wrong path. So I rather than goals and resolutions, I prefer intentions. We have an intention of what it is we want to achieve. And really with intentions comes flexibility comes ease comes flow, not pressure. Not the mental fatigue that plays out from having to get things right to achieve that goal. But rather, setting an intention that will stretch you that will help you grow. That will point you in the right direction. And then having the presence of mind and the awareness to say this is not working, it's time to change directions and reset that intention. And if you're doing really well working towards it. Increase. This is a place of expansion. It's a place where you have freedom to explore, to improve to find new solutions. It's also a space where you can find more of that internal drive and not have to be at the mercy of external motivation. Having something to pump you up having to force yourself having to push yourself when quite possibly your body or your mind is telling you you need to rest so it's a subtle but powerful shift in your thinking. Word resolutions if you break it down not bad actually re solutions much like intentions. So maybe the problems aren't the resolutions by you just don't it wrong. You're looking at it wrong. It's too rigid, too. Yeah. too rigid. Not allowing the flexibility. Not allowing the spontaneity not allowing the creativity that brings you success in so many different areas. So put your intentions in place, build your processes, step by steps and then be prepared to adapt on the run. To reset to either shift to a different direction. That's more or in keeping with where you're heading to, to actually stretch yourself more if you're finding what you've said his intention is, has been easy to, to achieve or actually be okay in saying, Well, I've probably shot a bit too high there. And let's just redirect this to something that I can break down into a smaller chunk for now, until I'm in the right space to go again for something bigger. And then within tensions you're allowed, you're able to shift yourself into a better energy. Not in that place of cutting yourself down. I didn't do this again, today, I didn't do that. be harsh with yourself. And just being more gentle, more flowing more easy and just going okay, what needs to be in place what needs to change, take the steps make it happen. Now, as always, you're going to get the best results when you have support with that. That's why I love exercising with other people at different times. That's why many are drawn to the sporting team environment. Or even if they're an individual athlete, having a team around them to hold them to account. Because there's real benefit of that. So don't get stuck in goals and resolutions that feel forced that feel hard. But bring yourself in that place of intentional flexibility, ease and flow, release the pressure. Find that inspiration and internal drive and make your resolution stick this year.

I hope you enjoyed this episode of The Grief Code podcast. Thank you so much for listening. Please share it with a friend or family member that you know would benefit from hearing it too. If you are truly ready to heal your unresolved or unknown grief. Let's chat. Email me at info at Ian Hawkins coaching.com You can also stay connected with me by joining the Grief Code community at Ian Hawkins coaching.com forward slash The Grief Code and remember, so that I can help even more people to heal. Please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform