A Holistic Alternative to New Year Resolutions

I have been thinking a lot about setting goals at the turn of the year. I have been resistant to them for a while now, mostly because I have oppositional defiance disorder ;) And I resent being told what to do!

But I have come to recognize that on a deeper level, I don't like setting New Year's resolutions because I think they are mistimed.

They are inefficient because we are trying to plant seeds (symbolically) in the dead of Winter. If you know a farmer, ask them now, "When is the best time to plant new seeds?"

You can be sure they will not tell you it is on January 1st.

If we take a step back and acknowledge that we are human animals, dependent on the Earth's natural cycles, then we are forced to confront the futility of this practice.

We also risk setting lofty goals only to watch them peter out, and we are left feeling demoralized and frustrated. Would you react that way if you walked outside and put a seed into the snowy ground and it didn't fruit?

Some of you may resist the idea that your life cycles are intimately tied to the Earth's natural cycles... and that is okay. I resided in that camp for many, many years.

But I invite you to broaden your perspective and entertain, for just a moment, that if you live more aligned with Earth's cycles, you might be more effective, efficient, and productive.

Think about your life and the general mood, energy, or vibe you experience each season.

If you are like me, you likely sleep more in the Winter, feel budding energy in the Spring, have excessive amounts of energy in the Summer, and feel the gentle tug to start slowing down in the Fall.

I lived in Hawaii for a few years, and we did not have explicit seasonal changes, but even there, I could feel the subtle shifts and notice the differences in the growing cycles of specific plants.

So what Is an Alternative?

Well, let's return to symbols, cycles, and nature. Winter is associated with the Northern direction, symbolizing adulthood, caregiving, nurturing, and legacy.

The direction embodies the wisdom and responsibility earned through the harvest (in the Fall).

It is also a recognition that seeds are already in the ground due to your earlier efforts. We are responsible for being aware of these seeds and preparing to nurture them as Spring's call wakes us from our slumber.

Winter is a time for reflection. It is a time to turn inward, to look around at our closest circles, and to identify what we can nurture.

What have we learned through the last year's cycles? What did we gather during the Fall harvest?

How can we focus less on putting new seeds into the ground and instead game plan for how we can best prepare the soil for these impending changes in the Spring?

So, I have no major resolutions at the turn of the year. I will set those in the Spring. Instead, I am reflecting on what worked and what did not. I am writing, I am thinking, I am planning.

Thank you for reading. Your attention is your most valuable resource, and I cherish the opportunity to have that for a moment each week.

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See you next week!