After the year we just survived, I think people are wanting a "DO OVER." Why is it December 31st signifies the end, and January 1st signifies new beginnings? Of course life is always about change. But, why do we have to draw a line in the sand, and say, "this is the day?'
I found an interesting article about the history of resolutions, it goes back 4000 years. What we now call, resolutions, were for very different reasons. I am going to attach a section of the article from the History Channel, below.
"The ancient Babylonians are said to have been the first people to make New Year’s resolutions, some 4,000 years ago. They were also the first to hold recorded celebrations in honor of the new year—though for them the year began not in January but in mid-March, when the crops were planted. During a massive 12-day religious festival known as Akitu, the Babylonians crowned a new king or reaffirmed their loyalty to the reigning king. They also made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return any objects they had borrowed. These promises could be considered the forerunners of our New Year’s resolutions. If the Babylonians kept to their word, their (pagan) gods would bestow favor on them for the coming year. If not, they would fall out of the gods’ favor—a place no one wanted to be."
I love the part that states "they made promises to the gods to pay their debts and return objects they had borrowed." It then goes on to say, "if they kept their word, their gods would bestow favor on them in the coming year and if not they would fall out of their god's favor." For the Babylonians, their gods were what held them accountable.
Let's come back to present day, 2020. Tonight you will be setting your resolutions for 2021. It is an exciting time, possibly a new adventure for 2021. Maybe you want to lose weight, or maybe you are going to get healthier. Whatever your resolution may be, it will probably take a lot of work. After all, isn't that why we have resolutions? You know, goals to better ourselves, and enjoy our lives. Let me ask you, what changes from January 1st to the end of January? If you decided to get healthier and join a gym, are you still going to the gym regularly at the end of January? Be honest, a lot of us aren't. I have had many years of broken resolutions. I am not judging in any way. I can speak freely here and tell you exactly what my problem is. I don't hold myself accountable. Why is it so hard to do this? I still want to be healthy, I just don't want to put the work in. Maybe my resolution this year, isn't about me, directly. Maybe my resolution should be finding an accountability partner. Hmmm, isn't that interesting. Let me repeat that. My resolution this year, is to find an accountability partner, who will hold me accountable on the days I can't find the power to hold myself accountable. here it is. A resolution I may be able to stick too.
As a health coach it is so much easier to empower others, and be their accountability, when they can't be accountable on their own. Yet, I struggle with my own accountability. If you have ever worked with me, you will know, the first thing I tell you, is that this a a perfection and judgement free zone. Meaning, I am not perfect, and because of that I don't judge, and honestly, I don't expect perfection from you. We are human and as humans we aren't perfect. As a health and wellness coach, I get it. I have struggled too.
In closing, I wish each and every one of you a Happy & Healthy 2021. If you are in need of an accountability partner, I am here.