By Melissa Zonfrilli
After the Holiday, I took a longer than usual break from routine. I was a little under the weather, and hearing Joy’s voice in the back of my head, I knew what I should be doing, so I really rested. My kids were on vacation and extremely happy with the free time and snow. So it was the perfect opportunity. I read some books, took some naps, and I left the Christmas tree up until January 6th! I did a lot of cooking! As I felt better, a miraculous thing happened! My head cleared up! It literally felt like a fog had lifted and things had started to organize in my head all by themselves. In case you are wondering, I am not the most organized person. I always feel like I could be using my time more wisely. I am always trying new methods of organization in the hopes that some of them will stick permanently.
While I was rejuvenating, I found myself thinking of things I wanted to accomplish this year. Now, I have never been one for the whole New Year’s thing. It has never made any sense to me. This is not to say I never make a resolution. I just do not call them resolutions and I do not do it on New Years! Call me the Anti- New Year! Ha ha. I do understand the reason why we feel like a new year is the perfect time for a change. I also think it is why we fail so often with our resolutions. After week 2 and we do not have that fresh feeling anymore and life starts happening it is easy to say “Oh forget it.” Things go wrong, we get really busy, and excuses start popping up left and right. This is the beginning of the end of your New Years resolution. This is why you need a plan.
With my newly cleared mind I started making plans. Plan is a better word than resolution, I think, and easier to stick to. The word “plan” involves having a clear goal with steps to get you there. Resolutions are easily out the door in a matter of weeks, mainly because we just state something silly like “I am going to get into a bikini in 6 weeks”, with no real plan to get there. You are off the hook if you fail with your new resolution because it is accepted that most people will not succeed at them. A plan, however, can be made any day, not just the first of the year and it involves more than one step. You have done this before. I am sure you had one for your life and your career. You know what to do. The first step is to write it down. Write down your goal! Make sure it is realistic and you have some simple steps towards it that you can take. Unlike your plan for your life, you are probably trying to change something you do not like about yourself or create a good habit. Remember each small step you take will motivate and reward you. Set yourself up for success. Your next step is to write down some powerful reasons why this goal is important to you. You must use powerful words that will inspire you when you need it. Why do you need to succeed at this? The right words are very important. Choose them wisely. Write as many of these as you think you need. Your last step is Visual. Print a picture of what you think you will feel or look like if you accomplish your goal. Here is your plan. Keep these steps with you so you can refer to them when needed.
Joy has some wonderful information on this website and in her practice. Everything is at our fingertips that we need to be healthy individuals. It is up to us how we use that information. The most important thing is not to give up, no matter how often those little voices in your head are arguing with each other. If you slide off the track a little in your quest for better health, that is o.k.! Who doesn’t? Look at your goals. Refer to them often. The most important thing is that you get back on the track. You do not want to be left at the station. It is a long way back to better health, but you do not have to walk.
Do you have a plan?
One of Joy’s Clients
Melissa Zonfrilli
