I love the New Year, the energy and possibilities that come alive at the turning of the year. However, I’ve never loved New Year’s resolutions and I’ve never kept most of the ones I’ve made. Today, I know that I am in good company with the majority of people who make resolutions. I stopped making them a few years ago and actually felt relieved. I started setting goals instead. By February, I usually didn’t know where they were. Whenever I would run across them, I would immediately get tense. Sometimes I’d find them a year or more later and still get tense.
The major obstacle was that the resolutions were things I thought I “should” be, do or have. “Shoulds” are most often quite different than the dreams and desires of my heart and soul. The resolutions were driven, not inspired or truly meaningful.
Being, doing and having are wonderful elements of the human experience, however, it is when each of these is authentic that we are inspired to be, do and have whatever it may be and are fulfilled on the path to it’s accomplishment.
Our spiritual purpose is to use our natural gifts and talents to add value to life, to experience and spread more love, joy and aliveness. How we do this is unique to each of us, as our individual purpose may be.
It is through our dreams and deep desires that we are called toward living out the unique expression of our natural & spiritual purpose. It is by saying “yes” to these and being committed, through our actions, that we are inspired and given the means to fulfill them.
About the Author
Reggie Odom LICSW, CPCC, PCC is the founder of Inspired Works a Life Coach, inspirational speaker, and lecturer at Simmons College School of Social Work. She is considered a master teacher and unforgettable speaker. Reggie coaches professionals and practice-based entrepreneurs who want more joy and greater aliveness. http://reggieodom.com
