2 min read

Be Resolute

Happy New Year!! I am sure you are excited to start a new journey in 2021. 2020 is in the rearview mirror and it was a year where we all learned so much about ourselves and the world in which we live. Starting today we are going to look ahead and plan for 2021. What are your goals or affirmations for 2021? Did you make any "New Year Resolutions"?

I had to Google the terms "resolution" and "resolute" as I wanted to make sure that I understood their meanings and context. The online Merriam-Webster dictionary definition was very helpful:

"Resolve to Define Resolute

Resolute comes from the same Latin verb as resolved, and the two words are often synonyms. So how did it get this meaning from the Latin? Essentially, when you resolve a question or problem, you come to a conclusion, and once you've reached a conclusion you can proceed to act. So in your New Year's resolutions, you resolve—or make up your mind—to do something. Unfortunately, New Year's resolutions aren't a good illustration of the meaning of resolute, since only about one in ten actually seems to succeed."

I am not a fan of New Year resolutions. The fact that most do not succeed is not the only reason, but often times I feel that our resolutions are fixes to shorter term problems rather than truly being resolute about how we can make meaningful change in our lives. How can we be bold and steady in our strategy to meet our goals in 2021? First and foremost, it goes back to setting SMART goals. I have written about SMART goals in the past and won't belabor that again. You need goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and timebound. I also learned quite a bit about how to establish habits by listening to Dr. BJ Fogg on the Healthy Human Revolution podcast. Dr. Fogg has a very simple model to help us change our behavior: B=MAP. I will let you learn more from his book or website, his advice makes sense to me and I have been applying these principles to changing my own behavior for some time.

There are so many topics I want to discuss with you this year. Let's start with January. Many of you have reached out to me to learn more about adding more plants to your plate. Whether you are embarking on Veganuary, the 21 Day Kickstart with PCRM or simply adding more colors of the rainbow to your plate, I encourage you to explore some of the resources I have listed below. Your health is so important and the time and energy you invest in healthy eating, being physically active, managing stress, getting quality sleep and being socially connected will pay off in the short and long-term. Please invest in yourself. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup and you have so much to give.