Goodbye 2016….

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not a resolutions person. Setting big, lofty goals and putting pressure on myself to change has never actually helped me change. In fact, when there’s too much pressure to change, I feel stifled and overwhelmed. And burdened by the need to change. I start to wonder, what’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stick to….? Why can’t I do _______better? And then ultimately, I start to feel like a failure, admit defeat and just give up entirely.

It’s happened too many times to count. Lofty goals turning into even loftier failures. Like when you’re eating the last spoonful of ice cream after promising yourself you wouldn’t eat the whole pint. Just one scoop, turned into three….maybe four. And then all of a sudden, it’s gone. And then the next time you eat ice cream you give up on not eating the whole thing because you already feel like a failure and failing at something is harder than not failing at something. 

And ice cream is a soft example (bud um ching!). But we can replace ice cream with so many things. All of those promises, goals and challenges that we impose on ourselves. I will exercise more. I will be punctual. I will be nicer. I will do more good in the world. I will….I will…I will…. and then mostly, I won’t….

I’m saying NO to resolutions. I’m saying NO to pressuring myself to change. And instead I choose to embrace what I have, acknowledge who I am and open myself up to the possibility of who I want to be. I choose to live my life with a vision, a feeling of empowerment and joy for who I am, and who I want to become.

My 2017 will be about focusing on micro actions that I can take each and every day, each and every moment to bring me closer to my vision. Realizing that each and every day, each and every moment is another opportunity to start over. To change perspective. To reroute, reset, renew.

In 2017, I am empowered to breathe in possibility and joy. I am empowered to let go of obstacles. I am empowered to allow myself to surrender any expectations. And I am empowered to be present in this moment. In this New Year. In this life.

Every journey begins with a vision of where you’re going. You just have to know where to look.

What’s empowering your journey into 2017? Join me and the entire #SweatPink community for an extra empowered 2017. I challenge you all to incorporate this theme of empowerment into your daily life for the next 365 days.

For more inspiration, check out posts from Alyse and Becky about their EMPOWERED 2017!