{Image via Ali Edwards}

A fresh approach to New Year’s Resolutions

In the midst of integrating a (gorgeous) new baby in to our household over the past weeks, coping with the associated sleep deprivation as well as a demanding toddler, we have found little energy left over for creating our usual comprehensive list of personal and professional resolutions for the coming year. Somehow, it seems a little too exhausting and unrealistic, and we just need the chance to celebrate where we are right now.

As an alternative, we have each decided to pick a word – just one word – that resonates with us, that we can focus and reflect on throughout the coming year and that sums up what we want for ourselves in 2012.

My word is NURTURE – I love this word, and it’s motherly tone feels just right for me this year. After spending much of last year pregnant, often sick, tired and feeling unable to accomplish the things I had hoped for, I now feel as if I have the clarity and energy to start truly nurturing and developing all the areas of my life that I feel as if I have neglected – my children, husband, friendships, business and most importantly ME. Nurture = preparing beautiful food, getting plenty of gentle exercise, spending quality time, building self confidence and belief, supporting and encouraging my own hopes and dreams as well as those closest to me.

I first came across this idea on Ali Edwards blog last year and have been keen to try it out and see how it works for me. She has also put together an online class with monthly prompts and activities designed to help you stay focused on your word during the year.

To resolve, or not to resolve?

If you are like most people, your well intentioned resolutions quickly fall by the wayside, usually before January has even been and gone (apparently the ‘official’ figure on this is a 78% failure rate!) Very often, these resolutions are centred on something that we feel is ‘wrong’ with us – our weight, fitness, bad habits or laziness and too often rely on an ‘all or nothing’ approach that is impossible to sustain.

Instead of focusing on the negative, why not be kinder to yourself this year by choosing a positive, meaningful word to carry with you on a daily basis, while remaining completely open to the powerful possibilities it holds for you?

The health and fitness industry tends to prey on the idea of new year’s resolutions as it inevitably translates in to more gym memberships and weight loss products sold at this time of year than any other. Naturally, we think that the start of a new year is a wonderful time to stop and reflect on what is or isn’t working in your life, and for many people this means their health and wellbeing needs some serious attention. But, instead of resolving to drop x number of kilos by a certain date, or exercise x number of days per week or give up chocolate (or alcohol) completely, we are asking our clients to adopt a word that positively supports and reinforces their particular goals for the year.

Make it your special, motivational, secret weapon this year!