Do New Year’s resolutions work?
Or are they just a waste of time and a way to make you feel like crap by February first?
I believe the latter is true. Resolutions can be a slippery slope into setting unrealistic goals and beating ourselves up when we don’t meet them. The common experience of overindulging at holiday gatherings can compel a commitment to extreme resolutions (like running an Ironman) to mitigate the damage. There’s a punishing feeling about resolutions, and in my own experience, setting them has been pretty ineffective.
My favorite year-end ritual is called, Crap You’re Leaving in 2016. In this Real Love Revolution video, and in the audio for this episode of Hello Freedom, I outline the simple, yet effective process of making three lists, one of which you will burn. The first list is, Crap You’re Leaving in 2016, where you write down all the experiences, feelings, even people, and whatever else you’d like to leave in the past year. If you’ve been feeling victimized, frustrated, angry, etc. write it all down and vow to leave that sh** in 2016.
In this video, I cover:
- How to Leave the Crap in 2016 (List making)
- Why Resolutions Tend to Fail
- How to Find the Gems in Any Crap Situation from 2016
- How to Design Your Life in 2017
The second list is the Gems You’re Keeping from 2016.
What wisdom, especially from the painful experiences, did you acquire in 2016?
It’s important that you look at every crappy situation and try to understand what was in it for you. What was the lesson that came out of that situation for you? There’s something powerful about being willing to dig deep and get your hands dirty by really analyzing what came out of the bad situation, and how you were changed.
You’re the only one who can authentically take that on for you. Personally, I know that every awful thing that has happened in my life has been an opportunity for growth and illumination. (And don’t get me wrong, sometimes it took years for me to gain that perspective, but my continued evolution was worth it.)
In the last list you are writing, What You Are Creating in Your Life in 2017. What new feelings and experiences are you ready for in the new year? Write it all down! And then you will ritualistically burn the Crap You are Leaving list, and hold onto the other two lists. Feel the feelings of all that light and positivity on the lists you are keeping. Along with working every day toward your dreams, visualizing and feeling the feelings of having your heart’s desire is how to manifest what you want into reality. Click to get your downloadable versions of these lists now to easily fill out!
You get to design your life. You get to learn and grow from the good and crappy experiences. It’s an honor and a privilege to be alive every damn day and to share this trip with you. I am so GRATEFUL! I can’t wait to see what we create together in the Real Love Revolution in 2017 (I’ll see you all there!).
Drop me a comment here on the blog and let me know what resonated with you after watching this video. Then head over to my YouTube Channel and SUBSCRIBE for free access to every Real Love Revolution vid! Join the conversation with #RealLoveRevolution on social media and share the love!
Thanks for watching, reading, and sharing!
And as always, take care of YOU.
This was terrific information. I have never been successful with New Years resolutions and then of course feel bad. I really need support and women friends. I would love to find a group to meet up with and connect. Thank you.
Glad you liked it, Tara!
Thank you so much for this video! Very inspiring.
Thank you for watching, Marina! I’m so happy you found it inspiring!