Therapy Tuesday
Photo by: Julie Bindeman, Psy-D
I promise, this is not going to be yet another blog about the "shoulds" and "shouldn'ts" in a new year. But I admit, I initially thought about writing that entry. Then I was talking to a friend the other day, and she was talking about not making resolutions this year, but figuring out what she can put in place to be a more healthy her. That really resonated with me.
It seems for most of us, resolutions are made to be broken. This is largely the case because they tend to be large goals, and frustration and disillusionment comes in when we miss the mark. For instance, let's look at the popular resolution of losing weight. I prefer the term, "weight removal" coined by Dr. Pamela Peeke, as being lost implies wanting to be found. I don't like finding the weight that I've lost...
I'm sure we've all made that one (or contemplated making it) at some point. For some people, it happens. But normally, it takes a bigger trigger to make substantial changes. Receiving news from your doctor that your weight is causing major health issues, or experiencing one of those health issues tends to do a good job as serving as a weight loss trigger. But for the rest of us, where maybe it's about wanting to look better, versus being morbidly obese, how can we obtain that?
*Set small goals
*Have a buddy (being held accountable works wonders)
*Find motivation (hanging that dress that no longer fits can be a great one)
*Figure out small, but doable changes (taking the stairs, wear a pedometer)
*Make one change per week, rather than go whole hog
These are examples for the popular goal of weight removal. But any goal can be broken into smaller pieces. Or as my friend suggested, reframed. She's looking at becoming a healthier person and looking at what she can add to her life to do so. Sometimes addition rather than deprivation can be helpful in achieving goals.
Happy New Year! Here's to us in 2011!!!!
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