A few years ago, I did a Law of Attraction exercise where you pretend that it’s a year later, you’ve just bumped into someone you haven’t seen in quite a while, and you tell them all about the past year. At the end of the year, I found that nearly everything I’d written came to pass, so I decided to try it again last year. This time I typed it out, added photos illustrating the things I wrote about, printed it, and put it in a picture frame where I would see it every day. My results weren’t nearly as impressive, and I think I know why.
For starters, it covered too many areas of my life, including business, leisure, and health. Looking at all that at one time was just too overwhelming. Furthermore, because the document was in front of me all the time, I just didn’t see it anymore. I knew it was there and what it was, but instead of motivating me, it made me feel guilty that I wasn’t doing what I set out to do, or annoyed about things that were outside my control.
I realized what was wrong with my approach when I read 2010: The Year of Baby Steps which recommends, among other strategies, setting one resolution per month, instead of trying to change everything all at once. Although I wasn’t necessarily attempting to achieve all my goals at one time, I wasn’t focusing on any of them, so it’s not surprising I didn’t achieve what I had envisioned.
After being inspired by the 31 Days of Self-Care Blog, I decided I would start this year by doing something everyday aside from work and TV/DVD viewing, even if it’s just to get out and walk around the block, or to look for healthy recipes to try. It may not be much, but I think it’s a good starting point, and I know I will benefit. I’m not going to be blogging about my daily progress, because I really don’t think it will interest anyone but myself, but I am making notes in one of the spaces in the weekly planner I ordered from momAgenda.
One of the online tools I’m using to support my efforts to leading a healthier lifestyle is a free membership site website called PICFIT.ca. If you’re looking to lose weight or make other healthy lifestyle changes this year, or if you’re a health professional who would like to get some free exposure by supporting others, you should check it out too!
By the way, my daily something isn’t always health-related, though it often turns out that way. It can be as simple as doing my nails, or as fun as going out for lunch with my dad and my sister. It’s mostly about remembering that there’s more to life than work and watching movies. Don’t get me wrong; I thoroughly enjoy both activities. If I didn’t, I probably wouldn’t have to make a point of doing something else! I just don’t want to look back one day and sing this song:
