Un-Resolutions for 2014...

It's coming to that time of year when so many of us start thinking about the new year, new resolutions and turning over a new leaf.  Yuppers, we're always trying to improve ourselves and our life's. However, this got me to pondering why most resolutions fail?

Is it because we make totally unrealistic goals?  So often we ask of ourselves the impossible because we are determined to "fix" everything overnight.  We attempt to lose 50 pounds by April when we probably should try to set a more reasonable goal of perhaps, 20 pounds in a year or about 1.5 pounds per month.  Or...

we decide to exercise 1 hour every other day when we haven't exercised in 10 years or...

read 2 books per month when we usually don't read at all or...

you get the picture.

Most of us are aware of creating a workable plan, setting realistic, measurable goals, tracking our progress, etc., etc.  Right?  So, why it is we commonly fail at maintaining our objectives much past March???

Perhaps, we've been going about change all wrong.  Perhaps, we need to do it different this year. Maybe we need to focus on getting happy and being okay with ourselves just as we are for the next year.  Maybe we should pursue contentment with our life's, our bodies, our circumstances...maybe we need to make some un-resolutions for 2014!

I'm not suggesting that change is bad or resolutions are not worthwhile, but possibly we'd would have a better chance of succeeding if we started from a place of gratitude...being at ease with ourselves.

Psalm 139:14

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

How about if we spent 2014 being okay with our life and ourselves instead of despising how we look, how we act, where we live or what we do?  What if we focused on the positive?  I mean really focused... 

on how wonderfully well God made us and affirm it by being grateful.  What if instead...

1. of resolving to lose those extra 20 pounds we embraced our health and well-being
2. instead of forcing ourselves into a dreaded exercise program, we learned to listen to our bodies and be thankful that we can move them freely in dance or walking or swimming or whatever is enjoyable
3. we approached our job as serving a higher purpose than collecting a pay cheque; like providing for the family we love, engaging with people we enjoy or perhaps, showing us the need to reeducate and move on.
4. of detesting our home, we became grateful for the shelter it affords us and our loved ones, a place to share precious time with friends or a sanctuary where we can relax and be safe.

What if we spent 2014 as the year of un-change?  Why not?  At the very least, we won't feel so depressed because we failed, yet again at keeping our New Years resolutions.  And who knows...

we may come out of the year with an entirely new perspective!