Four Mistakes to Avoid in 2017

​Why do you think we struggle in some areas of our lives but succeed in others?

This past week, I was telling a close friend about my need for daily meditation. I told her that when I miss my meditations, my life becomes chaotic. I become irritable, disorganized and stressed. 

Her reply jolted me, “But you’re so spiritual now, I didn’t expect for your life to ever get messy again?!”

That’s when it hit me: I’m only as good as my habits. Success in any area of our life is not a destination we arrive and stay at, it’s something that is on loan. You have to pay that rent every single day if you want to keep it, and that rent comes in the form of disciplines and habits.

This goes for anything you value in life: health, fitness, happiness, relationships, spirituality, etc. If you want to strengthen an area in your life, it comes at a price. You need to focus more attention and good habits in that area to see the results you desire.

So often people want to get fit for the New Year. They get a plan and begin to execute it. They reach their goal and as quick as you can snap a finger they begin to ditch all the habits that got them there to begin with. And obviously their results fade, and they return back to their original state with those original habits.

Here are four tips to consider to avoid this cycle, and develop strong habits that last a lifetime:

Get Honest With Yourself
Assess the areas in your life on a scale of 1-10. Pick your priorities that most contribute to your happiness and well-being. Don’t make your current situation worse than it is (OMG I’m so fat, this is useless) but don’t make it better than it is either (it’s not THAT bad). Rate it with a number, and be fair with yourself. Your current situation is but a result of your habits, it’s not a reflection of how good or bad of a person you are. Honesty is vital in making changes, just remember that this is no time to judge yourself.


Your Thoughts Build You Up or They Beat You Up
You are the most influential person you’ll talk to all day, so keep that self chatter positive. Show yourself some love regardless of where you’re currently at. You are lovable on your worst day, never forget that. Transformations don’t come out of a state of self-hate. Don’t strive to be better because where you’re at right now isn’t good enough, simply know in your heart that you can do better, and strive to be the best you that you can be. Self-hate leads to self-sabotage which results in you staying stuck. Love yourself into a better life, because you deserve to feel good in all areas of it.


Avoid Extremes
Do me a favour and reject any 30 day diet or “fix” you see. Just say NO! What good is it to adopt a plan that only lasts a month? If you want sustainable results, you will need a sustainable plan that you can follow the rest of your life. Bruce Lee said “long-term consistency trumps short-term intensity” so ditch your get fit quick scheme, and make some meaningful changes in your life that you can adopt forever.


It’s Your Habits, Not You
If an area in your life is not going so great, it’s simply a reflection of your habits. It’s not you. You are not a bad person because you are overweight, you just have disempowered habits. Keep you and your habits separate. They are but choices you are making, which seems pretty simple to correct: change your choices. If you feel you are defective because you are overweight, correction seems more complicated.

With each New Year comes a new beginning, a fresh start, and new opportunities to be the best version of ourselves. But remember that this blank canvas comes every morning. Each moment really. Each and every moment is an opportunity to choose again, to choose better, to choose peace and happiness. 

I hope these tips help you in making your next year, your best year.

Sending love and light for 2017,
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-L.K.

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