How I'm avoiding self sabotage in the New Year.

It's the new year and aaaall the talk about resolutions is happening.

Admittedly, I love a good resolution. So much so that I have a stack of vision boards from over the years. However, as I've added more layers (read: complicating factors) to my life, I've learned that going too big does not set me up for success. Instead, it can become "one more thing" that I haven't completed. Sounds deflating, doesn't it?

Instead, I'm keeping it simple and thinking of what I want for 2024 in terms of three areas - mind, body and spirit - inspired by the IG account @AccordingToBridget. Goals that hit one or more of these categories? Those are high value in my book and easy to inspire when I think of how strongly the mind, body and spirit are intertwined. Enter Venn diagram.

I’m also happy to count habits I've already incorporated successfully as, well… successes. Already have a workout program that you love? (Hello, CrossFit Roots). Great. Stick with that and hit a weekly WOD target (*sits down to calculate how much more often is needed to hit the 225+ classes per year benchmark). Or figure out what skill needs work so that you can work on that next skill next year. Believe me, I've got plenty to tackle.

Most of all, I'm hoping to not hold myself to some standard that my goals have to be "just right" because no one earthside should determine that standard for me besides me. But I am looking to move closer to being the best version of myself.

Here’s just one humble example of how I’m looking to evolve and what that means as I encounter the first hurdles.

After contemplating the how’s and why’s for long enough, I’ve decided to refocus my efforts on a business I worked diligently to build before our third was born. Why has it taken me so long to decide? It is as simple as how easily I beat myself up for what I didn’t do the last 4 years. However, that would hold me back out of some idea that I failed beyond repair. Instead, I am choosing to give myself some grace because I know stepping back was much more about surviving the COVID era as a frontline worker with - gasp - questions than anything else.

My self-flogging and disappointment could easily hold me back. Not because my business has actually gone extinct but because it’s not where I imagined then it would be now. Instead, I’ve decided to focus on where I want to be months and years from now. And it’s not getting my butt kicked in the ER. That’d be nice.

However, just as soon as I decided to move forward, the plot was quick to thicken. Complete with the murk of obstacles.

Imagine my disappointment when I learned the email list I had carried for so long went extinct because I left it untouched for THAT long. Do I just abandon the thoughts in my head? The first steps to diving back in? No, I tell myself. Instead, I’ll shift gears and start anyway.

Maybe this blog post will be forever solo. Or maybe it will be the first steps on a new and better path.

For now, I’ll be giving it a shot in the casual conversational tone that feels right at this moment. What are you trying in 2024?