2014 is here! After the
celebration on New Year’s Eve with a glass (or three) of champagne, and that
special kiss to ring in the New Year, we turn our focus onto New Year’s
Resolutions; the list of resolutions which we’re really (we swear), going to commit to and keep
this year. After some brainstorming we
often come up with a list that seems to resemble that our peers'. Maybe to sleep more,
become more organized, save money and often to lose weight.
In Googling “New Year’s Resolutions”, Tips
on how to maintain your resolutions, appear first. Why are our resolutions so difficult to maintain? Why do our lists resemble last
years' and the year before? Why can't we seem to lose the weight, or become
more organized? 50% of Americans make a New Year’s
Resolution, and within 30 days, only 8% of them are still committed. Experts
say that it has a lot to do with the approach we take when making our
resolutions, and that using guilt or fear as motivation seems to be a deterrent.
So how to we achieve success? On
Bankrate.com, they offer a tip. ”Make a resolution to fit with your own
values." My own values? After thinking and internalizing this idea, I have come
up with a resolution that might just make 2014 the best year yet:
- "To put myself first.
Webster Dictionary defines
Self-Centered as having or showing concern only for yourself, however it continues
to add independent of outside forces or influences. I can only assume most of
you are thinking that, living this way is being selfish. Yes, by definition,
Self-Centered is considered to be negative, however can we redefine it as being
centered on ourselves. Not influenced by
media, our significant others or friends/family's' opinion, but truly what is important to us.
Influenced simply by our own values. Being authentic to who we are. If we can
acknowledge that we OWE it to ourselves, to love, care for, and respect ourselves, then it becomes
easier to achieve our own resolutions.
In today’s world we constantly lose, what I like to call
our self-center. We center ourselves on friends, spouses, school, and family.
We often lose our values in the midst of this. We put all
of our external responsibilities and obligations first and fall into a cycle of fatigue,
anxiety, and stress. This activity of putting others first consistently seems to ignite feelings of resentment, guilt and a
sense of failure. By making a resolution to put ourselves first, we acknowledge that once we meet our basic needs and desires, we are able
to give and accept from a place of true joy and happiness because we eliminate
the cycle that leads to resentment and feeling overwhelmed.
What would a life
of putting ourselves first actually look like? It would include remembering each decision we make should point toward our own values. It would include saying “no” more often, and allowing space for our own
thoughts. Showing ourselves love and respect on a daily basis would mean letting some people down once in a while, and in turn, it would be giving from a space
of true love and happiness.
Our resolutions
of wanting to lose weight, or to eat better, often fail because we fall into
feelings of guilt and fear from an outside force or influence. So if we allow
ourselves to be self-centered and focus on our own values and what our own
desires are, we might see that the world has endless possibilities. Our goal is to, eventually, through putting ourselves first, have our resolutions become a
part of who we are!-Sarah Morrison, RD, CD, Director of Medical Nutrition Therapy for Ramey Nutrition
