The Fantasy of New Year’s Resolutions
Dear friend,
Let's talk resolutions. How's it going so far? We've likely all made one or two in our lives. We've also likely given up immediately (or maybe right around now…) on one or two as well. Many times, the moment we declare a new rule for ourselves, we break it. To quote Esther Perel, “A resolution is a declaration of desire. I want to spend more time with my family and friends. I want to lose weight. I want to make time to travel. Resolutions activate a mental state of regard for our quality of being. In this mindset, we live in the exhilarating in-between of who we have been and who we wish to be. The fantasy of a clean slate motivates us to change. But will we?”
Instead of moving towards something new to incorporate into our lives, let's take a look at what we can shed. Rather than adding more to our plates, perhaps making space for cutting ties, breaking promises, and moving on creates a new capacity to either be filled or left open will grant us the permission we need to fuel growth. Gifting ourselves license to ‘let go’ rather than ‘take on’ can lift the spirit and lighten us up. The compassion that can come from a wall coming down is just as important as the compassion coming from the boundary being placed.
There are plenty of newsletters and social media posts that will encourage you to make promises to yourself or others. This month we want to focus on letting go of things that are no longer serving you.
Questions to answer in a journal or around the dinner table...
What does it feel like in my body when I break a commitment or a promise?
Where in my life can I afford to shed a layer of discipline?
Identify a story that is no longer serving you.
A collection of highly recommended sources of inspiration:
The Radiance Sutras by Lorin Roche - Lorin brings us a unique perspective on the 112 Sanskrit teachings
We Do: Saying Yes to a Relationship of Depth, True Connection, and Enduring Love by Stan Tatkin
Headspace Guide to Meditation on Netflix - a friendly animated look at the benefits of meditation while offering techniques and guided meditations to jump-start your practice.
Thank you for meditating on the month with us! As always we are here to serve. Book your next appointment online or give us a call. We would love to hear from you.
-House Nine