Are Resolutions a thing of the past?
Statistics tell us that most goals Americans set are about improving their health this time of year is because we are bombarded with stress, guilt, family arguments, parties, lack of time and plenty of sugar. Like most, we assume a resolution involves foods and exercise, with better eating habits being number one on the list. And we’re willing to give it a try every year. But, resolutions are like going on a blind date, they don’t work for any length of time. It’s because resolutions don’t carry with them any real solutions.
Research claims lack of willpower is why people give up their goals. But I believe wellness goals are so much more than willpower!
Real solutions are found in wellpower! Wellpower is the power within yourself in order to make change happen and continue for a lifetime. The power within your decision making abilities. It’s what makes and keeps YOU motivated. Feeling motivated and happy is normal, instead of stressed or disappointed within ourselves. If we’re always stressed and depressed the body looses the necessary energy to follow through with resolutions.
Wellbeing becomes insignificant when we allow disconnection between our mind and our body. Having the mindset to make wiser food choices or give up arguing is never as simple as it looks. Longtime toxic food habits and stress can stand in the way of our wellbeing, leaving us open to depression and hopelessness. Moody, the body can no longer respond to its internal signal, to stop the habit, behavior or ritual that keeps us stuck. The result, our weight loss efforts, better relationships or exercise habits are hijacked.
What is really happening is that we are manipulated and conditioned into consumerism. We are told and believe fast is better. (Fast foods, quick and disposable relationships, and no time for self-care.) Manipulation includes chemicals, alcohol, misogynistic songs, pills for every move we make or ache we feel and poor quality foods.
Recent studies show more than half of the U.S. is eating a poor diet with seventy-five percent being obese. Highly processed foods can act like drugs in the brain, causing addiction and poor decision making abilities. This process can alter brain function, throwing self-control and resolutions out the window.
So if you’re thinking, where is my willpower for yet another New Years Resolution? You’ll find willpower doesn’t stand a chance unless you address the true cause— conditioning, habits and advertising techniques that have us hooked. Somehow we unknowingly agree to the corporate agenda, and that is to fool our mind into thinking we’re lacking POWER. We think we need something on the outside, that’s going to make us feel better on the inside. We reach for that shinny object that’s going to fulfill our needs. Trying to make a resolution in this mindset will set us up for failure.
Simple Solutions for Wellpower include:
Getting your decision making skills to connect to your wellpower skills is part of my mind/body solutions. This is where you can see results and success happen when wellpower is applied.
Know what your body is asking for and why. Pay attention to your body’s natural elimination and detox practices. Drink more water for energy during the day instead of stimulants such as energy drinks or coffee. Water gives the body energy, not caffeine and sugar.
Take a step into natural ways you can incorporate movement in your life. Try dancing with your parter for a more intimate relationship.
Notice when you are hungry and notice when you are stressed. Breathe and take quiet time for yourself. It is wise not to eat when you are stressed, because the body doesn’t know what it is suppose to digest first.
Make time and room for sleep. Practice going to bed in a quiet dark space without TV’s or computers in the bedroom. Wi-fi disrupts sleep. Stress interferes with sleep as does alcohol. Choose to watch less TV to quiet your mind and invite more good books into your life for relaxation.
As you can see, to strengthen your mind and body is more than just willpower, it’s wellpower. Make time for wellness and broken resolutions will be a thing of the past.
Let’s all invite wellpower into our life in 2016 and beyond. You can find all these tips and more in my new book. With a health coach in your corner, you are given the tools and the support you need to achieve the results you desire.
Author short bio: Connie Rogers is a Certified Integrative Nutritional Holistic Health Coach, Published Author, Reiki Master and Motivational Speaker for Mind/Body Health. Check out her new book: Path to a Healthy Mind & Body is on Amazon
references:
1- http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/jeremy-mccarthy/2012060522562
2- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15363612
Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding well-being from the ground up. As she works with each client, together they open a door that empowers them to rewrite their life, one bite size step at a time!
