Sensei Talks  

Before starting a New Year, we often look back and evaluate how we did over the past year. Have we come out ahead on the goals and promises we made? Are we happier than the year before? How did we do financially? Did we take care of ourselves? Meditation? Exercise? Health? Weight?

Why do we do this to ourselves? This is similar to torture, unless it's done in a positive and constructive way. I’ve seen this with my patients for 20 years now. As soon as people slip from their exercise program or healthy eating plan, they throw in the towel. Don’t throw in the towel, carry on!

Follow a plan that fits your lifestyle and food preferences. Otherwise, you’re setting yourself up for failure before even trying. I confess I do it every year too. I’m always short on the exercise and that eternal five pounds. Life gets in the way.

At the beginning of the month I promised that I would move my body five times a week for at least 30 minutes. I now know that five days doesn’t work for me, so I’m changing my goal to a minimum of three hours a week. I prefer to go for long walks or bike rides as opposed to doing something almost everyday. I can go for walks on the beach after work or go for 2 hour walks on the weekend like I used to. I'm a lot more likely to do this because I love it. And that is what we tell people all the time, choose an activity that you like so you enjoy doing it and it’s not torture.

I’m so lucky to live in a climate that allows me to walk on the beach year round. The ocean is so revitalizing…it’s like walking-meditation. I already lost 3-4 pounds, now I can work on the other 2-3 pounds. The whole idea is to make realistic goals. Five days a week is too much for me, but I can do at least three hours a week easily with three one hour walks or two hour and a half ones. That’s feasible. I can keep my promise to myself. I’m not promising to meditate daily, but I have to include this in my life again as it is so powerful.

So this is my confession to my resolution: I am accountable for my shortcomings, but will not beat myself up about them. And if I need to I will change my game plan, keep my eye on the motivating reason why I am doing this and carry on. Like James Ray from “The Secret” says all the time: “you cannot continue to do the same thing and expect different results”.

It’s much better to rethink our goals then to abandon them altogether. We just have to understand that this is not failure, rather making it feasible to achieve our goals. People are too quick to sell themselves short. Instead think of all the things you have accomplished in your life; look at all your successes. Do it, now!

There are 100 different ways to get to the beach. Some people will drive straight there, others will stop along the way, walk or maybe even get lost, but we will all get there eventually. So make your goals realistic to YOU and enjoy the ride. If you need to change your plan along the way that’s ok...whatever it takes to get you there!

Therefore, do something different, be consistent, enjoy the results and be proud. Carry on and start the year with a good attitude and positive mindset!