We flip the calendar to 2015—a new year, a clean slate for the future. This is a time to pause and reflect on the year that has passed, and look ahead to what’s on the horizon.
For many of us, a new year also brings the annual practice of making New Year’s resolutions. We can all use some tips on setting goals and being held accountable to those goals. For help in making those resolutions, and keeping them, we turned to Mische Leighton, a certified life coach in Woodbury. Leighton works with OneBody3, which connects individuals, teams and organizations to their untapped potential by helping them discover purpose and the power of transformational change.
Q: What’s the secret to making a good New Year’s resolution?
A: In coaching, we focus on transformation from within, which implies a lifestyle change rooted in values versus a quick-fix/one-size-fits-all approach. Reconnecting with what matters most to you—not society’s take—is a reliable place to start. The motivation for change must come from a place of authentic desire, not societal pressure.
Q: How do I make sure I stick to a New Year’s resolution?
A: Accountability! People who achieve results do not do it alone. Recruiting a partner to hold you accountable to your goals works. Also, be clear on what you want. Real wanting comes from your heart, mind and soul—what are you longing for? When you identify what you hunger for, you inherently know what you need to do to satiate it.
Q: How do I conquer sabotaging behaviors?
A: Getting down to the root of your motivation. If you are pursuing something to impress or satisfy someone else’s agenda or idea of victory, you will rebel because it isn’t coming from a place of genuine connection. When you stop worrying about what other people think and do, you will step out of your own way and behave in ways that encourage better choices and nurture self-respect.
Q: How do I make change feel less intimidating?
A: By determining whether the change is necessary or simply desired, and then accessing the appropriate energy source to fuel from. Energy is fueled by passion, play, purpose and peace. Passion is that gritty, tenacious force that naturally energizes from within. Play is non-scripted energy that allows you to take action without taking yourself too seriously. Purpose is a driving energy that propels us forward through conviction. Peace is a patient energy that allows transformation to happen in its own time. When you link the type of change to the appropriate energy source, you can design an action plan that motivates rather than intimidates.
Q: Have you made your own personal New Year’s resolution for 2015? What is it?
A: Living God’s plan one day at a time. How will I hold myself accountable? . . . My planner is written in pencil.
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Certified life coach Mische Leighton can be reached at micheleighton@comcast.net.
