I obviously have a real problem with resolutions because they often are about weight loss which perpetuates our culture’s delusions around weight, health, happiness and more. If resolutions actually helped people become healthier and more at peace with their bodies, I’d be a huge fan! In my experience, though, they don’t and instead do more harm than good to body and soul, just like dieting any other time of year. Let me share what I know to be more effective in getting what you really want for yourself this year. 

Resolutions, like diets, start with an inherent negative judgement of your body and/or things you’ve done or have not done. Our energy tends to flow where our attention goes. Ever notice how the more you tell yourself NOT to eat a certain food the more you want it? That’s the dynamic I’m referring to here. With attention on the negative you create more negative. The, “I’ve got to stop eating ice cream every night because my thighs are gross” thoughts result in feeling powerless against the creamy goodness and thrusts you deep into the throws of painful body image. Not very health supportive at all. Pause here and reflect upon this dynamic to see if it’s been true for you, especially if you’ve ever made resolutions like these:

> Lose 10 pounds (or 20, 30, 40, 50…).
> Get in shape.
> Stop eating sweets (or carbs, or candy, or whatever)
> Stop drinking coffee (or alcohol or whatever)
> Get my “old” body back.
> Get back to my high school grad weight….etc, etc, etc.

Did these resolutions pan out for you? Are you enjoying blissful body image and vibrant health? If yes, then great!

If not, try changing it up with compassion-filled intentions this year. Intentions help us align ourselves right where we are and keep the energy positive. They break up black and white, all-or-nothing thinking which keeps us from completely dropping health-enhancing efforts if we have a slip. They also abate the emotional stress of guilt, shame and perceived failure.

Remember stress is the the worst thing for health, not being “overweight” or having cellulite. Intentions help us hold ourselves as a whole being rather than pieces and parts. They enable us to start from acceptance of exactly where we are and keep us in the present, both of which are absolutely necessary for authentic, lasting change.

Here are some ideas to get you started with the change you want and deserve:

> I intend to nurture my body with wholesome, delicious foods every day.
> I intend to love myself as I learn to care for my body more effectively.
> I intend to tune into and honor my body’s hunger and fullness cues as best I can in all eating experiences.
> I intend to move my body in fun, enjoyable ways.
> I intend to care for emotional hungers with emotional rather than physical nourishment.
> I intend to respect my body’s needs for wholesome food, rest, and movement.
> I intend to eat and move in alignment with my whole self.

May you enjoy peace and health with the skin you’re in today and all year long!

Namaste!

What are your intentions for this year? Please share them in the comments below. In the meantime, enjoy amazing advice from my fellow MOMTL bloggers.

Julie Norman, nicknamed "The Body Image Guru" by clients, guides women to live authentically healthy lives through peaceful body image, intuitive eating and mindful movement. She blends professional nutrition guidance with the wisdom of yoga to help women transform the ways in which they care for and experience their bodies. She maintains a private practice, REAL Nutrition, LLC, and is the creator of Body Karma Healing, a yoga-based program intended to help women transform body image from painful to peaceful. Julie believes healing individual body image pain helps us heal the world! Get started with her guiding DVD.