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Motivation for Resolutions


I've posted about NYE Resolutions before, and last year I made a novel status on Facebook, regarding self-reflection, before going out (or staying in) for the evening. NYE hits me in the feels.

As a recap of the mentioned entries, I believe that making Resolutions for the New Year is a necessary habit. Throughout the year, I think it's beneficial to make resolutions, in the effort to always better oneself for this earth. So, use NYE daytime as that moment to force a sit down, ask yourself "survey" questions, and think about what can improve. Millions of people are all doing this at the same time. Isn't that lovely? Imagine if we all did that weekly, or even monthly.

However, it's not realistic for the average person to sit down and ponder on a regular basis. Usually, something has to happen, in order to MOTIVATE a change. Which brings me to the theme of this particular blog entry.

It's usually when there is a conflict or a pressing matter, that the wheels start turning. One begins making time to tackle the task at hand, rearranging a schedule, and doing whatever needs to be done to "fix it."

And certainly: motivation can stem from something positive as well. "I want to change [x] because it will make [y] better." There's not necessarily a problem, but the pleasant outcome is desirable enough to inspire and provoke.

There is the ongoing playful joke that NYE Resolutions are broken pretty quickly. Well, of course they are. It's difficult to step outside of what is comfortable. It's one thing to simply make a list of things that you WANT to change... what NEEDS to change? By all means, still make the list because it's all part of the self-reflection process and recognizing aspects about yourself, lifestyle, and surroundings. But after that list is created, pinpoint those items where your back is against the wall, or maybe transform it into something where you can put pressure on yourself to make the change.

Ex.) "I want to eat healthier."
What makes it become, "I NEED to eat healthier?" Perhaps something like,
"I'm 45 years old, and heart disease and diabetes runs in my family. My dad was diagnosed with diabetes at age 49, and my mom suffered from heart disease about the same time. I need to change my eating habits right now, because I have to prevent something like this happening to me."

Long story short, "I need to not die" puts a lot more at stake than, "I'll get a salad, instead of cheese curds, next time I go out to eat."

In my previous Resolutions blog, I wrote something similar, about trying to make your Resolution(s) about someone else. This falls into the same category of being motivated. We all need to have something pushing us, in order to achieve success.

For me, my motivation is positively-pushing:
2019 is going to be a very selfish year for me. Over the past few years, I've spent a lot of my time helping my family, and hustling between work and errands. Over last summer, I took a staycation from work, and did my favorite activity: I hung out with myself. I forgot that I was my favorite. During this time, I recollected my soul, and thought about my current standing in life. For the remainder of the year, I took it easy with work (I bartend, so it is possible for me to have a lax and random schedule), and in my off-time, I actually did reflect on a bi-weekly basis. To prevent stress and have more "me" time, I discovered that I NEED routines.

My entire adult life has always been capricious: my first job was a server in a diner, and I have been in the restaurant industry ever since. That schedule is all over the place. Then, when I got into media (first wanting to be an actress, then "modeling" because it was offered to me, before becoming a host), that schedule was completely unpredictable because it was dependent on auditions, available work, etc. Having a fluctuating schedule, WAS my schedule. Well, things have definitely changed.

In order to prevent forgetfulness, and also create time to take care of myself in both physical and mental health, I need to start planning my day, week, and month. There is too much to balance by just "winging it," or "doing it later."

So, I have created an awesome system that works for me. And I can't wait to execute it during 2019, because it is going to lead to more Resolutions, such as working on and getting more travel destinations in my passport. I feel like an architect for my life.

When you reflect on yourself, I highly encourage you to find motivators on the things you want (need) to change. Think about what you value in your life, and how you can capitalize on that. Then think about your daily routine, and what bothers you. Why does this instance happen? Can you do anything to change it? If not, what can you do with your perspective to accept it and/or make it easier? Nothing is too small or big. But for the smaller things, figure out solutions. And for the larger things, break it down into pieces that are more comprehensive. Understand the cause and effect.

Lastly, fuck goals. That is too big of a picture. Achieve small wins, which will inevitably lead to overall victories.