The new year is about to dawn. It is the time for new beginnings. I am looking forward to the beginning of 2013. As with other years, it will bring some happiness and some sadness but the beauty of a new year is the hope. While it cannot be a clean slate entirely, it can be a chance to change our outlook. We can decide to look at the same issues with a uplifted view.
So rather than making resolutions, let's try hope. It sounds more positive than making resolutions, doesn't it? I am thinking of hope in a more concrete way than just "I hope this happens and I don't have to put any work into it..." In looking in the dictionary, we see that the definition of hope is as follows:
Definition of HOPE
intransitive verb
1
: to cherish a desire with anticipation <hopes for a promotion>
2
archaic : trust
transitive verb
1
: to desire with expectation of obtainment
2
: to expect with confidence : trust
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hope
I like that - to expect with confidence. That is what I need to put into my life. I hope to correct my bad eating habits in the new year. I therefore expect with confidence that I can and will correct my bad eating habits in the new year. Of course I will have to have a plan to implement my hope but I do like the positive way of looking at the changes.
What are your hopes for the new year? If you take some time to think about your hopes for 2013, make sure that you include that you hope to have fun or that you hope to be happy. After all, you don't want to weigh yourself down with changes that are not fun or things that will not make you happy. I think that a 2:1 ratio would be good. Two fun hopes for every hope to change your actions.
FOR 2013, I HOPE TO
1. See some friends that I have not seen for awhile (fun)
2. Write more (what I like to do)
3. Eat in a more healthy way (a change I want to make)
See, by putting in two things that sound like fun or will make me happy, I can look at the third change in a better light.
What do you think? Would it help you to think of "hoping for change" rather than "resolving to change"? Let me know either in the comment section below or on facebook (The 9 Inch Plate) or twitter (@9inchplate).
Thanks for reading!
I love that, Carol, that call to "hope" instead of get mired in all those "resolves" ... It feels like a much more positive way of looking at the year to come: a way of making it a year of "I can" rather than a year of "I must or I fail." Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteI usually set up New Years Goals instead of Resolutions, because I feel like once a break a resolution I toss it aside but with a goal you can put setbacks behind you and continue to work towards it. But I love your idea of setting up Hopes!! I hope that by working out and eating better, I can lose some of the weight I've been gaining. I hope to find more ways to advocate and share. And I hope for plenty of fun times with my husband and with my friends!!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you! I hope all of your hopes come true!
One of my big hopes for this year is to develop a healthy sustainable way of eating. My hope is that I can stop thinking and fretting and controlling, and "be" healthy, rather than "strive to be" healthy. It's about time, I suppose... :)
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