a New Year state of mind

It's Christmas Eve, but my head is in a New Year state of mind! For the last few weeks, I've been thinking of my goals for next year. The negative part of me wants to think resolutions are too hard and I never accomplish them anyway. But if I can drown out those voices, I remember that I love making resolutions! Making being the key word - I'm not that great at doing - BUT!! I have seen progress, and that's worth something! So I'm excited to continue. 

Beginnings inspire me. Mornings, a new year, a new job... I like the feeling of starting fresh and leaving past mistakes behind. Another way I receive inspiration is hearing what other people's goals are for the new year. So please share!

Last year I wrote here about my 21 for 21 list. I think I started doing this in 2020, but wasn't very successful. 2021 was better, yet I was feeling hesitant to make a 22 for 22 list. It seemed daunting - 22 resolutions is a LOT! Plus, I didn't have many ideas. In my search for new inspiration, I listened to a few of Gretchen Rubin's (the originator of this idea) podcasts on resolutions, and got some great ideas plus more courage! In the episode (listen here) where she reviews her 21 for 21 list, I was surprised at how many items she did not accomplish! Here are a few key takeaways.

• Crossing items off the list is not actually highest priority. 

• Some things that weren't accomplished in 2021 can be added to the 22 for 22 list.

• If something worked really well, that can be added to the list again.

This definitely pushed me in the right direction and I was able to start my list. Currently I'm up to 16, and searching for more ideas. This is why I'd love to hear from others what their resolutions are! 

Starting my list also helped me decide on my Word of the Year (WOTY). Here again, I was feeling uninspired and thinking of not doing one. There's something about seeing your goals written down that gives clarity. (Maybe being wide awake at 2 am for 2 nights in a row also has something to do with getting clarity ??) I realized a lot of items on my list had the same theme, and from there it was easy to find a word that summed it up.

My WOTY for 2022 is... health. 

This word reflects my desire for a more fulfilling spiritual life and better mental and physical health. I have to admit I have not been spiritually and mentally healthy for too long. I know having a WOTY is not going to change that, but I hope it will be a reminder to change my thought pattern or pick up the Messenger or get my exercise in. I want to put this word in places where I'll often see it,  but haven't figured out exactly how to do that yet. If you do a WOTY, how do you keep it front and center for a whole year? Now taking ideas!

Since I'm so persistently asking that you share your ideas with me, it's only fair I give you a peak at my 22 for 22 list! It still needs tweaking, but here's a few I have so far.

- Buy new freezer

- Get a will

- Remember family birthdays

- Weigh every day

- Spending freeze the first week of every month. (This has to do with the budgeting program we're doing. I still need to write about that!)

- Exercise 4 days a week, but strive for 5

- Stop mindless scrolling

- Have company once a month

Some of the items on this list scare me because I don't know how I'll accomplish them. I need to think of a few more easy or fun goals to balance out the hard ones.

Onward to new beginnings!