30 Day Reset
Last week we talked about creating goals for the new year. To examine our lives and determine how closely we are living in alignment to our values. To determine if there are areas that we have lost consciousness/turned on autopilot. Our brains can only handle so much, and when we begin to feel overwhelmed by the demands of our lives, we can’t help but go on autopilot in some areas, because we simply don’t have the time and energy to devote to it.
But as the seasons of our lives change, we may decide that we now have the time and mental bandwith to take some of these areas off autopilot and regain control with our conscious minds and bodies. What areas have you turned on autopilot, that you are now ready to start giving mindful attention to? How would making a change in this area make an impact on your life? Why is it so important to you? Get excited about your goal. Write it down. Tape it somewhere you will see it each day to keep you motivated.
Then get ready to take action. We are nearing the end of the year, with January quickly approaching. I would like to invite you to do a “30 day reset” with me in January. There is strength and power in numbers as we can motivate each other and hold each other accountable. Making a change in your habits is extremely hard, especially because we want to see our results immediately. “I’ve worked out and ate healthy for 3 days in a row, how come I haven’t lost any weight yet?!” Having a strong plan laid out as well as support and accountability will greatly increase your likelihood of staying committed to your goals.
Decide that you will commit the month of January to establishing new habits for yourself. Maybe it’s working out 5 days/week. Maybe it’s limiting eating out to twice per week. Maybe it’s committing to meal plan each Sunday for the week ahead. Maybe it’s cutting out flour and sugar. Maybe it’s making a budget and adhering to it. Maybe it’s waking up 15 minutes earlier each day to spend time reading, praying, or journaling. Whatever the steps are that will help move you closer to the big picture goal you have for yourself. Make a plan that outlines the exact steps you will take to help you achieve your goals. Anticipate the obstacles that could come up, and how you will handle them. Then, commit to yourself that you will adhere to this plan NO MATTER WHAT (barring emergencies). If you are having a hard week, reach out to others for support.
Once you begin to take action and adhere to your plan, you will begin to trust in yourself, to believe that you are capable of making change. You will feel the benefits of your new habit - more energy, improved mental clarity, less stress, etc. And as you move towards the end of your 30 days, you can begin to think about what habits feel realistic for you to continue going forward. The 30 day reset isn’t about working hard for one month and then fall right back into your old habits. But it does give you the option to tweak things if you need to. Learn what worked well, what didn’t work well. Adjust as needed, so that you can sustain the results you’ve gained long term.
Remember, just as a planted seed doesn’t grow into a tree overnight, neither will the result you want come immediately. Are you able to trust in the process, to have faith in the midst of uncertainty? Are you able to keep going when things get difficult? Just as a seed must sprout roots into the ground before it begins to grow above ground, so too must you have roots. Roots in a support system, your faith, and in the deep motivation that is your why.
So I hope that you will come with me, to take the opportunity to be courageous, vulnerable, and uncomfortable. Let us support each other as we bring mindful attention to our lives, to move closer to living a life filled with love, joy, and peace.
