Make new year's resolutions without shame or guilt

It’s that time of year again, when we all decide that we need new year's resolutions to overhaul our lives, our exercise plans, or our eating habits. I always had a love/hate relationship with new year's resolutions until I realized why they rub me the wrong way.

New year's resolutions are positioned as a way to “fix” or “improve” something that you’re not doing well enough. They are rooted in self-improvement, productivity, and perfectionism ideology. 

Let me tell you two things: 

1. You don’t need improving. You shouldn’t be anywhere other than where you are in your life, and you are perfect at every moment, growing and evolving in the perfect way for your unique soul. 

2. Guilt, shame and perfectionism has never healed or improved anything. 

Let’s look at another way to do new years resolutions that isn’t rooted in shame, guilt or compare and despair. I want you to use the following journaling prompts to find out what will truly make you healthy and happy. 

1. The type of support, love and emotional nutrients I need are … (this could be emotional, practical, spiritual)

2. When I think about the good I want to do in the world, I want to (do, start, make, help)…. 

3. When I think of the moments when I feel cared for, safe, resourced and relaxed, I think of… 

Once you’ve identified one or more things from these prompts, I want your resolution to be to manifest more of this in your daily life. Manifestation is one part action and one part magic. If you put yourself in situations where you can find those things you identified (or you ask people around you to help) AND you sit in the feelings of how good these things feel to you, then you’ll find the world softens in a way where these show up in your life more and more. 

If you try this method, let me know what you think! And as always, reach out if you have any questions or comments, my virtual door is always open for you. 

Xo Megan