It is truly a new year. And like every one that preceded it, it began with an old tradition -- a personal resolution for change. An off with the old and on with the new, if you will. We see it everywhere from our world to our country to our community to our friends and families and finally to ourselves; we are all determined to make things better this year. And indeed we will -- as long as we keep focused on the most important parts of that resolution.
As I look back on my personal successes, searching for common threads, I've discovered it wasn't the words I used or how I structured them. Nor was it the method or process or rules or guidelines I used in my action plan. And it wasn't just perseverance either, at least not in the traditional sense. It was something below the surface that seemed to matter the most.
So as I journeyed deep inside, seeking to find the keys that drove me to lose all of that weight and to maintain the weight loss for well over a decade now, allowing me to rediscover the happy, healthy person I was always meant to be, I was able to identify the two things that truly ignited and sustained me -- intent and spirit.
My resolution (that is, my intent) this year is to keep living in gratitude and to share from my overflow to those who need my support and to be open to those who are there to support me. I am not just talking about the material level. I am talking about emotional, mental and spiritual levels of support as well.
I am blessed to have more friends then I have time to spend with them. Last year was difficult for many of them. And yet, through their travails, their faith in themselves and their resilience, not only sustained them and their families, but at times, through their actions inspired others, as well. I was in awe at how some of my clients, through sickness and economic downturn, managed to keep their intent focused, and regardless of their own circumstances, they were always there to support those they loved. It was inspirational to me. Sometimes one wonders just who is the mentor. We all have so much to offer each other.
In keeping with my intention of living in gratitude I want to acknowledge one dear friend in particular who has been a blessing to me and to countless others by sharing his remarkable insights in what has been an especially trying area for many. I'm talking about Russell Bishop, one of the new emerging thought leaders in business. Russell has just authored a new book, "Workarounds That Work: How to Conquer Anything That Stands in Your Way at Work," and I want to recommend it to anyone who has found it more and more difficult in the current business environment to get the results they want and need for success. It's not only a great read, but also a godsend in these days of long weeks spent at the office just trying to catch up and keep up.
So, led by gratitude and with spirit stronger than ever, I welcome this new year with only the best of intentions. I hope I will continue to see you along my path, no matter where I go or how I get there.
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I do agree that New Year's Resolutions often get lost because there is not enough underlying intent and spirit.
Without a real sense of the reason for doing something, the process of doing it often falters. Part of setting goals is getting enough leverage on yourself to actually do something about it.
I guess if you managed to keep the weight off after a decade, you managed to do that. I have learned to only include goals on my annual list that I know I really have the intent and spirit to tackle. It definitely increases my success rate.
Wishing you all the best for 2011!
Kim Bauer
www.confabulicious.com