So....here we are almost to the end of 2016. At the beginning of the year I started our conversation about the path our year would take. . . .
This month's conversation will be about how your year went. Did you do more of what you wanted to do and less of what you didn't want to do? In January's More or Less I listed these on my More list:
❤️ Write
❤️ Draw
❤️ Exercise
On my Less list:
😜 Sweets
😜 Time on the Internet
I have to report that I did great on all accounts....for a while. Then I forgot about my list and did what I wanted. Isn't that always the case! I've finally realized I have to change what it is I WANT to do. Wanting and wishing are two different things. While their definitions are interchangeable, I think WANTING is a body thing, while WISHING is a mind thing. If I surely want to change my undesirable habits I need to get my body on board.
I say this because I recently listened to an author talk about the mind-body connection in our healing--whether it be physical healing or emotional healing. He pointed out that when we do an activity repetitively our brains make a connection that enables us to do the thing without thinking about it. An example is, I cannot tell you my 14-digit library card number, but my fingers can type them into the log-in box on my library's website. This is why practice is crucial whenever we learn a new skill. It's also why it's so hard to break a bad habit. The only way to do it is to replace the bad habit with a new habit--so that's what I'm going to do.
The question I posed to you at the beginning of the year was: When you get to the end of 2016 what will you wish you'd done more of? Less of?
So my question to you this month is: How did you do? Did you do more of the things you wanted/wished to do and less of the things you didn't want/wish to do? Do you have a new want/wish list for next year or keeping your old one?
For me I realize I want less distractions and more focus. To that end I will be making some changes in my on-line presence in the coming year because I want to devote my creative energy to illustrating my children's story "Gabriel's Tale." Once I figure out what I need to do differently, I'll let you know.
.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
This month's conversation will be about how your year went. Did you do more of what you wanted to do and less of what you didn't want to do? In January's More or Less I listed these on my More list:
❤️ Write
❤️ Draw
❤️ Exercise
On my Less list:
😜 Sweets
😜 Time on the Internet
I have to report that I did great on all accounts....for a while. Then I forgot about my list and did what I wanted. Isn't that always the case! I've finally realized I have to change what it is I WANT to do. Wanting and wishing are two different things. While their definitions are interchangeable, I think WANTING is a body thing, while WISHING is a mind thing. If I surely want to change my undesirable habits I need to get my body on board.
I say this because I recently listened to an author talk about the mind-body connection in our healing--whether it be physical healing or emotional healing. He pointed out that when we do an activity repetitively our brains make a connection that enables us to do the thing without thinking about it. An example is, I cannot tell you my 14-digit library card number, but my fingers can type them into the log-in box on my library's website. This is why practice is crucial whenever we learn a new skill. It's also why it's so hard to break a bad habit. The only way to do it is to replace the bad habit with a new habit--so that's what I'm going to do.
The question I posed to you at the beginning of the year was: When you get to the end of 2016 what will you wish you'd done more of? Less of?
So my question to you this month is: How did you do? Did you do more of the things you wanted/wished to do and less of the things you didn't want/wish to do? Do you have a new want/wish list for next year or keeping your old one?
For me I realize I want less distractions and more focus. To that end I will be making some changes in my on-line presence in the coming year because I want to devote my creative energy to illustrating my children's story "Gabriel's Tale." Once I figure out what I need to do differently, I'll let you know.
.•*¨`*•. ☆ .•*¨`*•
Take Joy!
I find it is always difficult to follow through new resolutions through all year. Mine this year was to appreciate nature more and for once I think I have managed to follow that through all year, maybe because I am outside more. I do think as you say that the key is to try and make your wish into a habit and then it is easy to succeed! Sarah x
ReplyDeleteYes, Sarah. You had to make a habit of getting out of doors more. Once you did that, appreciating nature was easy!
DeleteThe highlight of my year was visiting family in Maryland, Pennsylvania & Delaware. It was the celebration for myself having conquered cancer. PRAISE to my LORD JESUS CHRIST!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you came,too! Praise the Lord, indeed! 💕
DeleteAnother thought provoking post. I had to go back and read what I was thinking about last January. I think I've met some of my goals or am reaching towards them, but still a long ways to go. My thoughts are very similar and I would continue on with them. I try to do some little clean out or organize or change each day if possible--often only taking five minutes, but it is spirit lifting and invigorating, but then that says I'm the kind of person that feels good about getting things done. I hope you get a lot done on your book this coming year. And enjoy the days leading up to the celebration of our Savior's birth.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dotsie. It does feel good to get things done. Setting small, attainable goals reinforces this motivator for us. It is how I started doing "daily devotions". At first I only did it for 5 minutes before bedtime. Soon I was getting up early to have more time to do it in the morning because I wanted the "high" to carry me through the day. I spend 30-45 minutes a morning now reading and writing. Once you get the benefit from the change it's pretty easy to keep it up. I always say, we always take time to eat! So why not take time to do the other things our body and spirits need? I think because we don't take baby steps--we, at least I, leap into it and when I don't succeed right away, I give up. So I think you're on to something--5 minutes at a time.
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