Saying “No” To New Year’s Resolutions

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New year, new beginnings, new you. Ahhh – the New Year’s resolutions come flying at people fast and furious.

This year, I’m giving myself a little break from January goal-setting and focusing on me, my strengths and basking a little in all that I managed to accomplish in 2016.

While chatting with my family about which 2017 resolutions we are setting for ourselves, I felt a little overwhelmed and nonplussed at the same time. Every year, I set the same old goals – read more, drink less, exercise more, shop less…so on and so forth. I rarely achieve them or make them lasting habits (although I was more successful in 2016 with my resolutions than normal), so I told everyone that I’m simply going to focus on being happy and all the “good” that’s happening right now.

I’ve been doing a little research on goal-setting and how to better recognize my own strengths and weaknesses (wine and cookie consumption, inability to save a dime) and that’s what I’m going to run with in 2017: finding a better balance and enjoying the naughty stuff I love in moderation.

So instead of beating myself up mid-year because I let the resolutions die on the table, I’m going to focus on the following:

• Appreciating all of the effort I put into everything I do;
• Reflecting on what’s important to me and what isn’t;
• Determining if my life actually aligns with what I value. For instance, feeling stuck doing things I don’t like but have to, but I know I’m ambitious and need better opportunities to show off my skills; and
• Networking more to meet people who have similar interest and goals.

Now, these may seem like resolutions, but I’m approaching these as small little daily changes that I can easily make. For me, they are highly achievable and aren’t overwhelming. I’ve also taken the time to reflect inwards and ask those close to me to make a “Dom Self Portrait”. Sounds crazy and self-absorbed, but this is a fantastic way to see how others see you. Turns out I’m funny, feisty, adventurous, generous, “have a light heart”, easy going, love to help out others and bit of a catalyst (I can turn it up at a party). On the other hand, I’m also brutally honest, hot tempered, wear my emotions on my sleeve, completely intolerant of those I find annoying, not detail-oriented (especially if I find the task boring), and a *tad* impatient (tad = very).

As I look forward, this last set of character traits is what I want to improve to create a “better Dom”.

Have you ever kicked New Year’s resolutions to the curb? Ever have a “self portrait” done? Let me know in the comments!

*Photography courtesy of Worn Leather Media