“Prescient.” Acrylic. 40 x 30.” Planned this painting to be a Bison cow and calf, at least that’s the preliminary work in the sketchbook. As I listened, then moved as encouraged, this painting resulted. Another chronicle of 2020.
Why do our New Year resolutions tank so soon?
Resolutions are 4000 years plus of embedded genetic code driving us to promise the gods we’ll be good if they don’t rain destruction on us. A few centuries ago, resolutions became a part of western religious observances as a way to determine at the beginning of the year if our moral compass still functions - the irony is not lost. No wonder our intent backfires when an ancient ritual still drives us while society has moved on to the twenty-first century. Our “resolutions” are on a slippery slope to start with.
The current iteration of manifesting (thanks to The Secret) leads to the same end if we treat the Universe as our personal concierge, especially when other people are involved in our preferred outcome. Herding humans who have no clue what they’re supposed to do for and with us is like minding mice at a crossroads. My rule of thumb is the question, what is my business? Their business? The business of the Universe? I’m over my boundaries if I’m involved in any business other than mine.
Limiting the Universe to the parameters of our knowledge and imagination also becomes problematic to manifesting anything greater than our information base. Most Alaskan’s don’t know how to swim. The 9 months of ice and below freezing water during the few weeks of summer may have something to do with this. When I went “Outside” to university, the apartment had a pool and I decided I’d learn to swim. Every morning and night, I faithfully repeated the affirmation while imagining backstroking across the pool - primarily because I couldn’t figure out how to put my face into the water and breathe at the same time. I can still do a terrific backstroke, although I need a life vest to snorkel in water deeper than my knees.
Now, I pause, listen for the right next step, then move forward on my desires one right next step at a time. This leaves the path and future open to coincidences or shifts along the way. When we understand and separate how much of our decisions, responses and feelings genuinely belong to us from what is ancestral, cultural, historical knee-jerk programming passed down from progenitors, we stand a good chance of handling our life as it comes. We all know Yoda stated empirically, “Do. Or not not. There is no try.”
When we consider our goals and make resolutions have we taken into account our personal rhythms and consulted our heart for preferences? What has real meaning for us? How are we contributing? How are we attempting to propitiate the gods by bartering a sacrifice? How many of our goals initiate from external pressure and become TO DO lists? How many aspirations begin in guilt because society dictates a mainstream norm and our path may be in the margins?
Last year wound up way different than we outlined in our planners. My first intention of 2020 to support a daily preparation and gallery schedule reads, “No appointments before 10 or during studio time.” I intended to set my jaw with discipline to accomplish and 2020 made it effortless. What a great lesson - what other ways can we build space and time for effortless into our schedules. How can we take the lessons of this year into our future?
How can we metabolize the collective grief, ancestral resonance, personal losses to greater growth? What part of our cultural madness do we want to leave in the dust? Independent of externals, what could you do to be soul happy while meeting your desire to improve? Speaking of happiness, when was the last time you were happy? What were you doing you’ve since forgotten to do? How many times have we attained an objective only to realize the outcome didn’t make us feel well, we weren’t as happy as we thought we’d be? How is the intent of our goals helping us avoid issues central to our life mission?
Ideally, setting life goals is a combination of a plan with the head and intentions from the heart. If we plan only with the head we can become stuck. If we free flow with intention we are all over the place. We need the integration of both as a container for future progress.
Everything works better when we honor our feelings. Our life breathes a huge sigh of relief when our personal integrity supports our direction. The heart allows us more flexibility and chance for growth by recognizing serendipitous opportunities along the way. Having a logical direction allows us a certain peace and adaptability even when the unexpected blows up our world.
So, here’s to 2021.
If you have questions or want to share your story, the comments finally function thanks to Sarah Moon & Co. If you’d like coaching or want to shift old programs getting in your way, connect through the contact page.