Small Habits that Improve Your Life BIGTIME!

Happy mid-January!  Let’s see a show of hands of who feels less than excited about the resolutions you set a couple of weeks ago, or have already ditched them altogether.  If that’s you, don’t worry, you’re with the majority, and not so long ago I was right there with you.  It’s VERY common right about this time, after that fantastic New Year’s energy rubs off, for people to complain about how they aren’t keeping up with their goals and feel bad about it; you may even see a bunch of articles addressing the failure of resolutions.  Not only do I have a much different approach, I have a very effective solution.  Read on.

The true power of setting goals isn’t in the “what”, it’s in the why.  Why do you want to lose weight?  Why do you want to earn more money this year?  Why do you want to find a different job?  Here’s a phenomenal secret I learned last year: successful goal-planning and decision-making is 80% why and 20% how.   In other words, it is so very important to get crystal clear about not only what you want but why you want it, and to know those details so well that it’s like you could close your eyes and watch a movie about it.  What pleasures are you hoping to experience and what pains are you hoping to avoid by attaining this goal?  Getting in touch with these answers engages us emotionally, and it is our emotions that drive our experience.

Another fantastic thing I learned last year is that it isn’t enough to simply have a goal and outline steps to get there.  It’s far more powerful and effective to create habits that support our getting there, and I’m talking daily habits.  What are some things that you can do every day to keep you in the emotional state you need to be in to move towards your goal?  Here is where emotions again step into the spotlight.  We lose sight of (or interest in) our goals when we find ourselves feeling frustrated, unmotivated, irritated, distracted, etc., when we’re feeling negative emotions. 

But what if you were able to manage your emotions consistently to stay in alignment with your goals?

You can.  And here is a great place to start:  From the list below (or any that you make up on your own that resonate), choose a few habits that not only feel enjoyable to do, but are realistic for you to do each and every day.  Then start with just a week, commit to just one week of practicing these goals every day.  If you like how you feel at the end of that week, do them for another.  And then another, and another, and so on. 

When you do this, and are serious in your commitment to do it, you will quickly see just how these small changes in your daily life contribute towards bringing your goals to fruition.  And furthermore, you’ll notice the journey to get there is oh so much more enjoyable.

You can still achieve your goals this year, don’t give up!  Know what they are, why you want them, and develop daily habits to keep you in the optimal emotional state to get there.  This is alignment at its best, people, good luck!

Daily Habits (not a comprehensive list, mind you, but a good one):

• Upon waking in the morning, place your feet on the floor and say “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”  You’ve just positioned yourself for gratitude for the day. 
• Smile for no reason throughout your day, or perform “facial aerobics” – making faces at yourself, in the mirror or not, that promote the emotions you want to feel (i.e. happy, joyful, pleasantly surprised, content, laughing, etc.).  *Do it for as long as it takes to feel different, should only take 30 seconds to a minute.
• Say aloud or write 10 things that you are grateful for.
• Make eye contact with and smile at every person you meet, regardless of if they return it.
•  Incorporate uplifting music into your day.
• Journal.
• Meditate, even if it’s just for 5 minutes.
• Use daily affirmations or incantations.
• Exercise, even if it’s just for 15 minutes and it’s only a walk.
• Ask yourself powerful questions, without answering them.  These questions shift your energy and focus towards what’s possible, versus what’s lacking.  Ex. “What excites me about today?”
• Do at least one enjoyable, silly, or fun thing just for your own pleasure, even if it’s playing “Words With Friends” on facebook, or building a snowman with your kid.

I’m going to end my list there, but feel free to share any other habits you have found that help you to shift your emotions towards the good.  And please, if you’re one of the determined souls who tries this, I would LOVE to hear your experience!