What are your commitments?

Hello Everyone! Welcome to On This Walk, a reflection on the winding journey of life in all its realness. We explore intimate, meaningful conversations surrounding pressing life questions, strolling through both the tension points and choice points that can move us closer to our deeper, authentic lives.?

Beginning with a compassionate exploration of our inner landscape, we seek to bring this essence and these gifts into our lives, relationships, and work, creating a life that feels aligned and authentic inside and out.?

Let’s go On This Walk together.

As we enter 2023, many of us are thinking about resolutions for the coming year. These commonly involve exercise, health, family, money, and work. They sound like a great idea. What could be wrong with setting positive goals for yourself?

I have a few issues with resolutions. Resolutions usually focus on results as opposed to the process. When we don’t enjoy the process, it’s easy to get discouraged. Additionally, we can create unreasonable goals based on things we think we should be doing, rather than what we actually want. The results can leave us feeling inadequate.

When we set resolutions, we jump straight to the finish line. We’re denying ourselves the joy of the journey. There’s no need to get ahead of ourselves. Meaningful change takes time.?

Rather than leaping ahead to our end goal, let’s take stock of where we are right now.

What are your commitments?

I’m not talking about simply losing weight or working out more, but what are the commitments you’ve made to your belief system? To the way you live your life? To your relationships? To your fears? To your needs?

Take a moment to take stock. What are the most important commitments in your life? What adjustments do you need to make to prioritize and strengthen those commitments?

We’re a few days into January, so if you’ve already set a resolution, think about reframing it. Rather than saying, “I want to lose weight,” think of the ways in which you’ve already committed to a healthier lifestyle. How does that align with the way you want to commit to living your life? The phrase “lose weight” already has negative connotations. What if you commit to learning fun healthy recipes or finding a form of exercise that you can enjoy with your kids? Do the goals that you’ve set align with your most important commitments?

Our inner commitments can create simplicity and balance or complications and attachments within our lives. When our commitments are aligned, our goals will often fall into place, and we get to enjoy every step of the journey.?

Build a community.

You don’t have to do it by yourself. Setting commitments requires internal work, so I suggest sharing them. Reach out to someone you trust for accountability. Your commitments don’t have to be conquered alone. They don’t have to be conquered at all. There’s no passing or failing, winning or losing when we’re talking about what our priorities are and how we want to commit to them.?

Your challenge for the week:

Consider your commitments, and keep them top of mind. Write them down and put them somewhere you will see them every day, like your night stand or bathroom mirror. Change your phone lockscreen to a photo that represents your commitments.?

Now, find something that you can do today, no matter how small, to support those commitments.

As with everything, the challenge is finding the right balance, working toward alignment while fully appreciating the moment you’re in.?

Until we go On This Walk again, be well.

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