I really like your idea of small, incremental changes. It’s what I’m also embracing. Big goals terrify me and then just like you said, I just get paralysed and feel like a failure. One thing at a time works much better. I’m also working on “habit stacking,” which is talked about in Atomic Habits.
Small incremental changes are the only thing that works for me. But they eventually get you far! I’m so glad this post has helped. It was heavily researched… :)
What a wonderful, rich, informative and inspiring post, Imola. I enjoyed it so much and you've given me interesting further reading material. I love understanding how the brain works, it has been helpful in my own journey, but I have never seen that explanation of the three types of power and how they appear in our brain. So helpful! After being a lifelong "resolver" since my little locked diaries at age nine, I have abandoned that practice a few years ago and in the last two years been guided by intention, as you share, and also a "word" for the year, or a handful of guiding words, that come from a thoughtful end-of-year process of reflection. Last year I did Susannah Conway's workshops, which I learned about here on Substack, and also the Goodbye 2023 and Hello 2024 Project You journals, suggested by Emma Gannon. Through this effort I came up with a word for the year and two supporting words that have been like a north star. And this year I did a similar process with my older daughter, a free downloadable guide called Year Compass, https://yearcompass.com/#download.
One of my intentions for the new year is to be more faithful to my yoga practice, to go deeper within it. I have practiced yoga for over 30 years but often go months without being consistent at all, and the older I get, the more I yearn to go deeper within this ancient practice for all it has to teach me. And it would seem you have a lot to teach me, Imola, so I will look into your yoga offerings here.
I look forward to checking out Mindy Peltz' video on aging, thank you for that, too.
Oh, I’m so glad and honoured uou have found some encouragement and inspiration in this post Amy! And I love that we keep learning from each other! I will check the link you provided! The key to yoga is the word you mentioned: practice. Your journey with it sounds very normal, and common. Come back to it gently. More on that in a future post. Thank you for your thoughtful comment here!!
As the new year approaches, this morning I thought I should change my morning routine (doing NYT puzzles while having my morning coffee) that can take way too long, but the habit of it has been a constant. Instead, I decided to read, not the news, but rather inspiring articles. And this morning you, Imola, were at the top of my feed. How perfectly aligned the moment was! I’m so happy I landed on your resolution piece, it makes so much sense, and you write with such an honest and supportive tone, this can become a new habit. I’m also very proud of you, and grateful for your work, as it is now encouraging me to make a small change for the better. Thank you and happy new year 🙏
Your post helps solidify what I finally learned last year. Make small, consistent steps. I had never seen those words about doing a practice for a long time, consistently, and with love and reverence. But that is how I’ve been with the yoga and meditations for a long time now. I just never applied it to anything else in my life.
So looking forward, I will frame my intent for the next year and keep those learnings in mind.
Excellent! So happy to hear Tim! Yes, small, intentional, kind changes make a huge difference! I have changed so many things in my life in the past year without setting up to do it. One small adjustment lead to a momentum, then the inspiration to implement the next small change and before I knew it, I got fit and wrote a book :) wishing you the best of luck with that intention Tim! Have fun!
I really like your idea of small, incremental changes. It’s what I’m also embracing. Big goals terrify me and then just like you said, I just get paralysed and feel like a failure. One thing at a time works much better. I’m also working on “habit stacking,” which is talked about in Atomic Habits.
Wonderful post, Imola!
Small incremental changes are the only thing that works for me. But they eventually get you far! I’m so glad this post has helped. It was heavily researched… :)
What a wonderful, rich, informative and inspiring post, Imola. I enjoyed it so much and you've given me interesting further reading material. I love understanding how the brain works, it has been helpful in my own journey, but I have never seen that explanation of the three types of power and how they appear in our brain. So helpful! After being a lifelong "resolver" since my little locked diaries at age nine, I have abandoned that practice a few years ago and in the last two years been guided by intention, as you share, and also a "word" for the year, or a handful of guiding words, that come from a thoughtful end-of-year process of reflection. Last year I did Susannah Conway's workshops, which I learned about here on Substack, and also the Goodbye 2023 and Hello 2024 Project You journals, suggested by Emma Gannon. Through this effort I came up with a word for the year and two supporting words that have been like a north star. And this year I did a similar process with my older daughter, a free downloadable guide called Year Compass, https://yearcompass.com/#download.
One of my intentions for the new year is to be more faithful to my yoga practice, to go deeper within it. I have practiced yoga for over 30 years but often go months without being consistent at all, and the older I get, the more I yearn to go deeper within this ancient practice for all it has to teach me. And it would seem you have a lot to teach me, Imola, so I will look into your yoga offerings here.
I look forward to checking out Mindy Peltz' video on aging, thank you for that, too.
Oh, I’m so glad and honoured uou have found some encouragement and inspiration in this post Amy! And I love that we keep learning from each other! I will check the link you provided! The key to yoga is the word you mentioned: practice. Your journey with it sounds very normal, and common. Come back to it gently. More on that in a future post. Thank you for your thoughtful comment here!!
As the new year approaches, this morning I thought I should change my morning routine (doing NYT puzzles while having my morning coffee) that can take way too long, but the habit of it has been a constant. Instead, I decided to read, not the news, but rather inspiring articles. And this morning you, Imola, were at the top of my feed. How perfectly aligned the moment was! I’m so happy I landed on your resolution piece, it makes so much sense, and you write with such an honest and supportive tone, this can become a new habit. I’m also very proud of you, and grateful for your work, as it is now encouraging me to make a small change for the better. Thank you and happy new year 🙏
Oh Kristy, you’ve just made my day! Thank you!! So happy it has inspired you. What an honour!! Grateful to you and your kind words
Your post helps solidify what I finally learned last year. Make small, consistent steps. I had never seen those words about doing a practice for a long time, consistently, and with love and reverence. But that is how I’ve been with the yoga and meditations for a long time now. I just never applied it to anything else in my life.
So looking forward, I will frame my intent for the next year and keep those learnings in mind.
Excellent! So happy to hear Tim! Yes, small, intentional, kind changes make a huge difference! I have changed so many things in my life in the past year without setting up to do it. One small adjustment lead to a momentum, then the inspiration to implement the next small change and before I knew it, I got fit and wrote a book :) wishing you the best of luck with that intention Tim! Have fun!