I’m going to confess something that may ruffle some feathers. I did not make any New Year’s resolutions.
It’s the truth. Here's why: I've decided to go the route of mastering a few positive mantras this year instead. 2015 wasn’t too shabby. It had some unforgettably great times. But alas, I’m human and some pretty tough stuff also came with it.
So in my humble attempt to journey down Reflection Road circa 2015 and turn the upcoming year around, I tried my darndest to compile a list of of delightful, magnificent, and adventure-packed New Year’s resolutions. And what happened? That list grew. And grew. Annnd grew. Which honestly is a truly wonderful tribute to how much epic stuff life has to offer, despite its hiccups.
But this infinite list also pointed to a pertinent resolution rule of thumb to increase the chance for success: make ‘em manageable. So I trashed my traditional resolution-making entirely, and put a new spin on my ambitions.
As the annual ball-drop countdown hit, I took to the dance floor with my friends in eager anticipation of confetti, balloons, noise-makers, and 2016. I stood happy, hopeful and confident in my high-heels — without a single tangible resolution.
(Right about now, you’re probably thinking that is the most pathetic conclusion to these ruminations. But stick with me!)
Instead, I resolved to greet the new year without a list of “things to do” this year (necessarily), but rather a list of “things to live by” — positive mantras for daily doses of awesome.
And I have high hopes that these happy thoughts will gradually cultivate a remarkable list of “things I’ve done” in these next three-hundred-and-some days. (I don’t know about you, but I’ve found that I’m naturally more outgoing, ambitious and full of vim ‘n’ vigor when my outlook is on-point.)
It’s been said that “one small, positive thought in the morning can change your whole day.” I figure why not try to see what a few positive thoughts can do for an entire year?!
Challenge accepted.
Now I’m not saying that this is the staple strategy for all members of the human race, when it comes to life-changing goals and objectives.
But speaking for myself, 2015 was a doozy. So 2016 beckons a BIG hit of the reset button. This typically doesn’t happen overnight or by simply crossing activities off a list. Real growth and change comes with consistent practice of a certain mindset (or personal mantra, if you will). Particularly if the results are to last. And especially if they are to thrive through life’s tougher stuff.
I’ve been with y’all on this spinning spaceball long enough to learn (often the hard way) that bumps in the road are not always setbacks (despite the dire straits we feel in the moment, oy vey!).
More often than not, they’re opportunities to suck the marrow out of life’s wild plots (kudos Thoreau)… To try something new, to begin fresh, to give something the chance of different ending, to feel so deeply it seems unreal, or to otherwise be a pivotal part of a seriously amazing story.
Yours.
But you must show up for it. You must say yes to the storyline and see it through. Am I right?
Let’s put it into perspective. Say you plan to travel to a beautiful destination. Sure, you can take a private jet, arriving much faster and with presumably fewer ‘events’ along the way. The alternative is a winding roadtrip and/or connecting economy flights. Oh yes, this latter option will undoubtedly have its ups and downs, which (truth be told) may downright suck in the moment. But you are guaranteed to get to your b-e-a-utiful spot having embarked on a journey full of twists, turns and incredible tales that will stick in your head and heart for years to come. Capisce?
That said, perhaps I do have a resolution (albeit intangible) after all: to live out loud(er). To embrace the storyline and plot twists — and not just get through them, but to live all the more vibrantly and passionately because of them.
Of course, accepting life’s crazy curve balls is much easier said than done. So sometimes the secret is in the baby steps… personal mantras to live by on a daily basis, to keep positive enrichment in perspective during this 2016 adventure.
By this time next year, I may not have an annual, concrete ‘bucket list’ completed per se. But I’m certain that these small but mighty positive mantras will lead to big, unique adventures.
If you missed the boat when it came time to make your New Year’s resolutions, why not try hopping aboard this one? Feel free to use the mantras below (or ‘motivational morsels,' as I like to call them) as inspiration to get started.
Then create some personal mantras of your own as you go, and see where 2016 takes you.
Cheers to a bold year full of new adventures, friends!
WALK more, drive less.
More TEA, less caffeine.
TALK more, text less.
More QUALITY TIME, less phone time.
GIVE more, take less.
More BOOKS, less screens.
MOVE more, sit less.
More MEMORIES, less monotony.
More OUTSIDE, less indoors.
APPRECIATE more, complain less.
More ARTSY, less artificial.
FORGIVE more, fret less.
More SPONTANEOUS, less stagnant.
RELAX more, rush less.
More SELFLESS, less selfish.
More EXTRAORDINARY, less ordinary.
