The internet must be absolutely inundated with New Year’s resolutions right now. I haven’t ever taken part in this tradition having been heavily influenced by the ‘why bother?’ camp that my family promotes.

So instead of meticulously writing down bullet-pointed promises on a white board or taking a picture of my untoned body every week, I am going to write myself a very general pledge.

Resolutions are typically not general, they are specific and goal orientated – things that are easily measured. However, I didn’t want to fall into that trap where I set myself up for disappointment. By writing a general pledge I can easily change the parameters or the means to suit the situation I find myself in.

My pledge would mean I could change something like this:

“I didn’t make it to the gym three times this week. Oh no! I’ve failed my resolution!”

Into something less dramatic:

“I didn’t make it to the gym three times this week, but I did walk 12,000 steps today at work”

My pledge has little to do with going to the gym three times a week, but I thought I’d use that tired out resolution to make my point.

My pledge is to be…

Healthy

Eat nourishing foods, try new foods, reduce meat and dairy in my diet.

Happy

Quite simply – do things that make me happy! Stop dwelling on what could be or what could happen and just get out there and go!

Conscious

Be mindful and aware of the environmental impact of my choices.

 

The idea behind my pledge is to move my life in the direction that I want it to go, but at a reasonable pace. Rome wasn’t built in a day after all and cutting meat and dairy out of my diet might take a while too (especially after gorging on the stuff for the past few weeks over Christmas).

Instead of setting myself up for failure and disappointment, I intend to set myself up for an experience that helps me to grow into the person I wish to be.

Here’s to 2016!

Some more New Year cheer thanks to MarkE Miller: