I photographed this old-fashioned phone on a table in an alcove at Charleston farmhouse in Sussex (it didn't ring!). The whole house and its furniture, and the local church. were painted by the eclectic Bloomsbury household, that included Vanessa Bell and Clive Bell.
Welcome to your year of more Flow
You may have been lucky enough to take a break over Christmas and are now thinking about a new start. If you didn't manage a break, you may be wondering about managing your energy right now. Either way, I'm here to help with my top Flow Tip today.
Don't make any New Year's resolutions
Yes, r
eally. I haven't taken new year's resolution fordecades - and yet I am healthier, fitter and more fulfilled than ever I was
when I used to.
Joi
n my No Resolution Revolution.
'Reso
lutions' focus on behaviour, on doing (I will go the gym, Iwill eat a healthy diet, see my friends more, take up that new hobby...).
Without examining and stating the reasons behind why you want todo these things, it's unlikely you'll stick to it.
For the examples of resolutions above we could say that you are talking about the value
of your own health.
You get more flow when you understand your own beliefs andactions. You can get there in three simple steps.
Believe. Prioritise. Say.
1. Believe.
Behaviour is the outward sign of a belief you hold. Your beliefs are the deep-seated reasons behind your decisions and actions. If you're being honest, think about what you do and don'tdo now (e.g. I don't keep fit, I eat too many burgers, I automatically watch the TV every night).
- What does the way you act now say about the belief you hold about your own
health? - What would you like to believe instead? In our health example you might
say: "Looking after my health in small and big decisions means
...." - Examine that new belief - what does this mean, what does this new belief open
up?
2. Prioritise.
Your new belief will enable you to make decisions based on new priorities.
In our health example you might decide: "I will prioritise looking after my health in small and big decisions."
- What effect does this decision or action have on my own health?
- How does that change the outcomes for me or other people?
- What other options that are opened up by your new priorities?
3. Say.
Make it easy and memorable by adopting a simple guiding word orshort phrase for decisions and actions. Your personal slogan.
Choosing a word or phrase makes decisions more considered withless effort, because you've done the thinking in advance.
Over the years I've adopted, for example, "Be Bold", "Kindness", "Listen and Learn". Some have been useful for a few months while others have lasted years.
- Continuing the health example, and your new belief, what word or phrase you could adopt?
Here are some ideas for you.
a) My health matters
b) Health first
c) Keep well
d) Mind and body - Reply below to let me know if you've adopted one of them or comment with your own, better slogan!
- Click on the button below to book a New Year, No Resolution -45 minute guided conversation to get your new year off to new beliefs. You will come out with a refreshing belief to achieve your
goals.