I would be willing to bet that close to 99% of all New Years Resolutions are created by identifying physical things we want to acquire. Perhaps it’s a new relationship, a new job, or more money. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this methodology. If by December 31st you have managed to hit these goals and improve your quality of life, I applaud your efforts.
Unfortunately, the more likely outcome is that on December 31st you failed to realize your goals. Or, you did and discovered that everlasting happiness is not tied to attachments. If this is the case, I suggest a completely different way of approaching the New Year, choose to let things go...
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Constantly judging yourself
Stressing over things you cannot control
Needing others approval
Self-doubt
Resentment
The possibilities are endless, but the execution is not easy. If it were simple, the world would be a much better place. Pick your top 3 or 4 items and get to work. Being trapped in our minds in a sea of overwhelming thoughts and feelings prevents us from realizing and experiencing the joy life has to offer. Too often, we find ourselves stuck in a painful perpetual cycle constantly searching for the next thing that we believe can free us, only to discover that nothing “external” truly can.
The expectation of this exercise is not to PERMANENTLY eliminate these from your life. That is impossible. The goal is to become more self-aware and to catch yourself when these things start to fester. By recognizing the internal struggle and choosing a different response we earn the privilege of enjoying what life has put in front of us.
Shields Up
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