By Immani Love
New Year’s resolutions are bogus! Every year we as a community make a pact with ourselves to either get in shape, lose weight, stop smoking, or some other drastic lifestyle change. In reality, very few of us actually follow through and by February or March if we’re lucky, are already beating ourselves up for our “failure.” We try fad diets, self- help books, or paying gyms and personal trainers that we end up hating and at the end of the day regret whatever we’ve invested. This is no way to live!
I propose a different approach to achieving your goals. Don’t set any. Not one! I mean seriously, instead of setting unrealistic goals and frustrating yourself, try something different. Instead of setting a goal or making a New Year’s resolution, try saying your intention. Instead of saying, “I’m going to lose 50 pounds before the summer,” try seeing yourself on a beach in the most perfect swimwear you’ve ever seen. Visualize the waves crashing on the beach, the sun sweltering above, the sand under your feet. Feel every droplet of ocean mist on your skin. Each morning when you get up to start your day, have that image in your mind. Speak only of “when” not “if” you are on that beach. See yourself exactly as you would be at your “perfect” weight. It may seem simple, it may seem silly, and you may not believe me, but you’d be amazed at how far a positive mindset can get you. Imagine waking up every day knowing that’s who you are, that’s your body. Not wishing but knowing that is who you are even if you don’t see it in the mirror right away. Leave yourself “Love Notes” to remind yourself of your intention. Send yourself a voicemail so that you hear your intention throughout the day. If you loved exactly what you saw every day but saw it in that swimwear on that beach imagine how you’d feel when you are exactly as you envisioned yourself without doing anything but believing it. I’ve found that when I want something and I visualize it the way I want it to be, I become so used to seeing what I want that it becomes a natural part of my life and eventually a reality.
For example, I wanted to write my 2nd book. I knew I had ideas for the book, but I had delayed and procrastinated until I got frustrated with myself. After a while, I set an “intention” that I would write my book. I began saying every day “My book will be done before my next tour.” I said that every morning. I started seeing myself doing book signings. I got into such a habit of saying “My book will be done by May,” to myself that I actually said it out loud to others, it was just out of habit. Finally, one day someone said, “What day in May?” I replied, (without even thinking) “Cinco de Mayo!” So now I had a concrete deadline in my mind each day! I began to take time out to write each day because I had set this deadline in my mind and now, I had spoken it into existence for others. I finished that book on May 4 (May the fourth be with you!) and went on tour after doing several book signings for my new book before I left!
Setting an intention and speaking on it daily is how we manifest our dreams. Not only seeing our lives as we want them to be but BELIEVING with all our hearts and minds that this is how life is intended to be. It’s a revolutionary concept, isn’t it? What do you want to see for yourself in the coming year? Say it out loud, right now…Did you say it? Ok, now really say it! Now write yourself “Love Notes” and leave them places you go every day. What image will you start your day with? How will you make a “New You” in the New Year? I know what I’m going to do…I’m going to write my 3rd book before I go on tour. I’ll see you at the book signing!
