Expectations and why I resolve to change nothing (Pt.3)

This will indeed be the last of this series.  As everyone loves a good list, here are my 5 tips on how to implement a realistic, reasonable resolution.  Not only for today, but forever.

Put a Frame Around It 

I’ve found that building healthy patterns into my life starts with one simple activity in the morning and one at night.  This creates a virtual frame around my day with actions that start and end things on good notes.  This can be as simple as praying, flossing, reading a passage from the Tao, anything really.  But the key is to make it small and actionable so it’s reasonable to build it into your current routine.  When you’ve accomplished this, you can build inward from your frame, surrounding your “enemy” of the day by collapsing in on your undesirable patterns with fresh, healthy ones. 

Moderate Your Level of Social Networking

Don’t open your email unless you are prepared for: 1) bad news 2) the need from the sender to have a thoughtful response 3) stress.  Though this is harder to do every day with our increased level of connectivity, it is something we need to keep in check.  Unless you man a South Korean missile silo for a living, your email can wait until such time that you are prepared to consider the aforementioned 3 points.  This goes for Facebook too.  Make it a treat to spend some time there every day, but don’t open that page unless you are ready to see images and words that may not fit well into your personal perception of reality.

Make the Process the Goal

Don’t work so hard to reach or accomplish something.  This is not to say we shouldn’t be ambitious.  The point is to work toward developing a reliable set of activities that are healthy and constantly driving improvement in small steps and careful iterations.  I don’t run or exercise to lose weight or look good.  I do it because it is part of my process of living that makes me feel healthy and energetic.  I don’t eat fruit because I should.  I eat fruit because I like to and have developed a long-term relationship with food that combines pleasure and nourishment as the purpose of eating.

Get Some Fresh Air 

This is an easy one.  Walk to the store instead of driving if you have time.  In fact, make time.  When you see at 8pm that you’re out of milk for the kids cereal in the morning, instead of jumping in the car and driving to the store, turn off the television and go to bed earlier.  Get up 30mins early the next day and walk to the store.  You will be very surprised how the rest of your day unfolds.  Build conscious choices into your routine that involve making excuses to get outside of the house or office.

Meditate

This is a tough one and I still am terrible at it.  But I’m trying.  Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly for 10mins and paying attention to your surroundings.  Listen to your immediate thoughts, but dismiss them as fleeting and let them go.  Dwell on nothing, be not anxious of the future, and allow the moment to overpower your emotions.  This is an incredible way to start a day, and beautiful way to end it.  I’d strongly recommend you consider building this into your frame.

That's about it.  These are simple, actionable suggestions from a guy who is finding success and peace of mind from not changing my life, but observing it and taking my own advice.  Two things we rarely do.