It is that time of year again for New Year's Resolutions. As a young person I always rebelled against resolutions stating that we should be trying to better ourselves and our lives AT ALL TIMES, not just once a year to be forgotten as soon as February rolls around. Can you, for that matter, remember what your resolutions were from 2011? And did anything change long term?!
Well, a few years ago I started to make New Year's Resolutions. Predictably falling into my predetermined pattern of setting unreal expectations and forgetting them. I only remember 2 of 3 or 4 from last year because I had a yellow post-it note on my desk that said, "New Years Resolutions?" That was so no one would know what they were of course but I would still be reminded... Hmmm... A victim of my own cryptic, mysteriousness I soon forgot them. Sigh...
So this year I decided to pick just one.
But which one?
For me the diet and fitness resolutions are something I think (or obsess) about on a daily basis and I am constantly planning and tweaking my goals there, so my resolution needs to be more broad but also specific enough to promote real change, like an actual goal. It needs to be esoteric and spiritual but something I can do everyday.
Something I've been talking to my yoga classes about recently is living consciously, awareness of ourselves and the world around us, being in the moment and how habits both good and bad serve to keep us from being present and in the now. So that's it! Simply, LIVE CONSCIOUSLY. Be in the moment as much as possible. This resolution encompasses all previous resolutions. It's a WIN-WIN! So this year I will be more aware of my actions and their effects, the things I say and how it will make others feel, the thoughts I have and the impact on my own psyche. I will be more conscious of not just what I put in my body but being in the moment while eating it. And I will be more conscious of my impact on this planet and conserve resources and energy.
Living consciously is about living in the moment. Habit is the opposite. When I said to my class that there are no such things as "good habits," I got some shock and confusion. But a habit is unconscious whether it's good or bad. It's automatic and robotic and there is no being present. In fact we use habits so we can multitask unconsciously constantly. So why live in the moment? Why be present and mindful? Because then we can have gratitude and in turn more satisfaction in and appreciation of our own lives. And when we practice gratitude we become more content, less attached and addicted to things that don't matter. We become a happier human being in a position to help others. If we practice slowing down and being mindful of our body, speech and mind, the benefits will be instant and long lasting. It is simple but not necessarily easy, it takes practice. This year my post-it notes will be everywhere with just two words... Live Consciously.
