So how are you doing on those New Year’s resolutions?? We’re now eight weeks in to 2012… Or do you think the world is coming to an end this December and you just figure you’ll live each day like there’s no tomorrow?
Did that sound a bit snarky? It was actually a trick question – I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions. Although the structure of a calendar year can be very effective to ensure taxes are filed in a timely manner, New Year’s day is really no different than any other day. And to place such great significance on an arbitrary moment in time can be very counterproductive – especially when it comes to weight loss.
Because the turning of the calendar to a New Year is often seen as that “fresh beginning”, the weight conscious can be tempted to “indulge” throughout the holiday season thinking that they will simply start a diet or exercise program on January first. (Which brings up another issue, I don’t believe in diets – but you already knew that.)
And regardless of whether or not the holidays are any type of “issue” for us, when we make a New Year’s resolution to lose weight through a diet or exercise program, we must deal with the fact that Life will inevitably call to us, bringing with it that proverbial moment of “falling off the wagon.”
The danger of seeing New Year’s day as something more profound than just any other day is that it robs us of the opportunity for the enthusiasm of a new beginning in each and every day. When we recognize that there is the potential for a fresh start each and every moment, we are truly empowered. If this moment right now were the start of something great, what would you do? How would you feel? Who would you be?