#Live Whole Health #154″ Aspirations instead of resolutions

It is the middle of January… do you know where your resolution is? Every year we resolve to be a better version of ourselves. Resolutions are often health-related—such as losing weight, quitting smoking, or being more active. Research shows that the simple act of saying you’ll make a change releases neurochemicals that give you a mental boost, so making resolutions can actually be fun!

Sadly, that boost doesn’t last long and resolutions are hard to maintain for an entire year. Would you believe that about 25% of people drop their resolutions after a week and another 9% stop after a month? More than half are done with their resolutions six months into the year.

Aspirations

How about setting a goal that feels less demanding than a resolution? How about a 2023 aspiration?

While resolutions often have a numeric endpoint such as, “I resolve to drop 15 pounds in the next three months,” aspirations are open-ended and guide us toward ongoing growth.

Aspirations can begin with the words, “May I.” It could be, “May I be more patient with my family,” or “May I be more intentional about what I eat,” or “May I find opportunities to serve someone each day.”

Think of an aspiration that motivates you and write it down somewhere you’ll see it regularly. Try repeating it to yourself throughout the day as a reminder. The best aspirations are ones that you can adjust, so even on a bad day you can aspire to something meaningful. They also don’t have an endpoint but represent growth for you.

Also, aspirations can begin at any time—not just January 1—so maybe there’s something in your life you want to aspire to now. It may be as simple as “May I be more mindful in my daily life.”

Breathing Practice

Breathing practices can help you to be more mindful, which can help you to see clearly what matters in your life. Take a few minutes to practice with Dr. Amy Grinberg, psychologist with the VA New England Health Care System.

Whole Health

Connecting with what really matters in your life can help you consider your aspirations. Take a few minutes to connect with what really matters by reviewing the Whole Health Personal Health Inventory here. You may find areas that you want to improve in your life over the coming year.

Similar to aspirations, intentions can be a great way to think about what you would like to bring more of into your life, or what you might want to let go of. For more on intentions setting, check out this article and meditation here.