Now that the kids are back in school and the holiday period is officially over for most people, it’s time to consider what we are going to make of this year.
Innumerable posts on social media have made sure we are aware that it is not only a new year, but also a new decade. The roaring twenties are back again, and hopefully we will do a better job of taking care of our world than we did last time around. Does this mean that our resolutions for this year should be ten times weightier than normal? I hope not, given how few people keep their resolutions in a regular year!
Last week I mused on some ideas about making resolutions that we can keep. The main thrust of that concept is understanding our WHY, as Simon Sinek puts it. Why is it that we want what we say we want? Is fitting into a specific dress in a specific timeframe a strong enough WHY to help us stick to our plan, despite all the obstacles the world will throw up? Statistics would suggest that that is not the case. How about wanting to stay healthy, strong and vital into our older years, to be able to play with our (possibly future) grandchildren? Stronger, for sure!
I was watching a Ray Higdon video this morning, as I often do, and he mentioned Simon Sinek as well – but with one disagreement. Ray says that what is needed is not so much a WHY, as a vision. The vision is not of what we want, but of WHOM WE WANT TO BECOME.
Different people are motivated by different things – some want a certain type of appearance, some want a certain level of income, or a house, or a car – but in the end, it all comes down to whom we want to BE.
Do we want to be the person who has the strength of character to resist food that doesn’t serve them, because they have an end goal in mind? Having our self-vision as this person is much more powerful than the end goal itself.
If we want that house or car or pair of shoes, why do we want it? What will it say about us to the world, whom will it proclaim us to be? Will it declare to the world that we are desirable, lovable, significant, that we have status, that we have made it, that we are to be admired and followed? There is absolutely nothing wrong with this desire, but it’s important to take a moment to think about what it really means. Those objects have no meaning in and of themselves. What do they say about us, and why do we want to make that statement to the world? Once you’ve figured that out, you truly have 2020 vision.
If you have always seen yourself as someone who doesn’t finish anything, doesn’t stick with anything, who crumbles easily in the face of opposition, then it is going to take work to change this self-image. It can be done, however, especially if you are working in community with others who will help you lift yourself up when times get tough. Once you’ve changed your vision of who you are and whom you can become, there’s no telling what you can achieve, in any area of your life.
This is a great time of year to join that kind of community, while everyone is excited and fired up. If you would like to join mine, drop me a line and let’s chat!
Wishing you and yours all the best for 2020! May it be a year of health, wealth and growth for all of us.
If you are local to me, come start your 2020 off right by joining trainer Laurie Barkman and me at a fun event, at one of Winnipeg’s most beautiful fitness facilities! Check out the details and reserve your FREE ticket here!
