2022…IT’S YOUR MOVE

I am stunned that we are turning another chapter of time already! 2022 – here we come – ready or not!

This is typically the time we make “New Year’s Resolutions”, and then forget about them almost as quickly. Here are the dismal statistics:

·????????According to a study conducted by the University of Scranton, just 8 percent of people achieve their New Year’s goals, while around 80 percent fail to keep their New Year’s resolutions (according to clinical psychologist Joseph Luciani).

·????????Roughly 55 percent of New Year’s resolutions were health-related, such as exercising more, eating healthier and getting out of financial debt (according to the science journal The Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin).

·????????Before the first month of the year has even come to an end, most people have given up on their annual commitment to themselves. Research conducted by Strava, the social network for athletes, has discovered that Jan. 12th is the fateful day for New Year’s resolutions.

Before you give up and race back to bed, or race to the refrigerator or the shopping mall, you may want to consider a different way to shape your behaviour for more sustainable change.

I propose we all begin with curiosity – sincere, unbridled openness to learn more about ourselves.

What if we got down to the “whys” of our dreams, goals, and visions (the stuff of our resolutions)? ?What if we better understood our motivation, or our deep-seated need for the achievement of our goals?

Maybe then we could get “there” faster, sustain the behaviours that achieve that goal, or abandon the goal altogether because we have cleared the need or pattern in our psyche?

The subject of “why” has been addressed intelligently by many accomplished people, among them:

·????????Roger Price, with his, “The Five Whys of Purpose” (May 30, 2016 | Casting Vision).

·????????Simon Sinek, in his video “How Great Leaders Inspire Action” (YouTube).

·????????Adam Grant, in his book “Think Again”, and Amanda Lang, in her book, “The Power of Why”.

All the above strongly accent the need to become more curious about life and our part in it, for alignment of vision and feelings of success in the long game.

Following Mr. Price’s example, you may wish to ask the following questions if your goal is weight loss (and you’re a woman):

1)?????WHY do I so badly want to lose weight? (I want to look good in my clothes).

2)?????WHY do I want to look good in my clothes? (I want to follow society’s recipe for what is “sexy” in our culture).

3)?????WHY do I want to be considered “sexy”? (I want to be considered “sexy” because it means that men will find me attractive enough to date).

4)?????WHY do I want men to find me attractive? (I want love, companionship and don’t want to be alone).

5)?????WHY do I need love from an outside source so badly? (I want love to fill the hole of need I have inside of me that I can’t fill myself).

?EUREKA! This is gold! Now there is something fundamental to work on! This path has more potential for real change and growth than spraying solutions on the wall and seeing what sticks.

Through a rather ruthless series of enlightening questions, we can drill down to our core needs that have been screaming for our attention – and we have been ignoring.

I have come to believe fervently that we all need to connect within ourselves more often, to regain our stability, purpose, satisfaction, and wholeness. When we live our lives on autopilot, we forget our innate wisdom that is meant to guide us on our own, personal path to success in any endeavour.

When we take a moment to examine our choices and the reasons for them, we have the opportunity to formulate a plan that will directly address what will make us sustainably happy.

In the example above, which may speak to a small number of people, the lesson was to learn to love oneself, no matter how one looks. It is common knowledge that many will pursue weight loss ferociously, only to gain back the pounds in time. This is because the weight loss didn’t address the real need. And that need was to feel loved.

Studies have shown that those who focus on their true inner needs will find a shift in their outside circumstances (as within, so without). In the example above, perhaps that person finds that their weight shifts and disappears as newfound happiness, confidence and self love take root?

I declare that 2022 will be the year we find more personal contentment, happiness, and success overall! Who is with me?

I know I am curious about how I can create more of that in my life.

Many blessings to you, my friends, as you navigate the coming year and achieve beyond your wildest dreams!