You might notice something here. The last two weeks, the title of my post has been "Week # of Following My Resolution Chart." That word "following" is missing this week. The reason is simple: I didn't follow the resolution chart.
I'm trying to make myself feel like a failure, but I can't bring myself to do it. I have to admit, I did worry for a bit: What am I going to say on the blog?! Should I just skip it and hope no one notices? I think, though, that the lesson I'm learning in NOT doing the chart is really important, at least, it is for me.
The fact is we're getting advice from many sources every day. Someone or something is in our face telling us how to do things, how to improve, how to be better (I mean, that's what my blog is based on!), but really, we all have to figure it out on our own. There's no shame in giving something a shot and not having it work out. Each of us is different and will be moved and motivated by different things. It's better to accept that reality than try to wish for something that may never be.
I know this though: If we don't at least make an attempt at something different, we won't ever get to where we want to be. And that's what the resolution chart was for me. It was a good faith effort to see if I could increase my productivity, my happiness, and my stick-to-it-iveness.
It's like the quote goes: "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll get what you always got." I love that quote. Any time I am stuck in a rut, I remember that sentence. It's a lesson to me to try something, anything, but above all to DO something. And most of all when I am in a whiny place. I have a serious dislike for whining, especially from myself. I cannot believe that my life is anything less than wonderfully blessed so when I get whiny, I get to doing something different.
Interestingly, last Monday, when I posted about week 3 of the resolution chart, I got a call from a lovely person about how much the idea of the resolution chart is helping him and how much he is getting done and how good he feels about it. And, therefore, I am blessed. It didn't work for me, but it did for someone else. I love that.
So back to trying something different. I said it previously, but I'll say it again, I've worked on my emotional health enough now that I am pretty good at keeping my day-to-day life in order. I no longer have piles of stuff sitting around, my sink is cleaned regularly, the house is pretty good shape. I am proud of how it has evolved, and I love to have people in it. That's the best I could have hoped and wished for.
What I find that I struggle with is the things I have intentions of doing, but don't get around to. So I took my own advice! Imagine that! I wrote a piece for my Increasing Energy series called Plan Your Day in Advance and I've been doing just that.
The idea is that I choose five things that I would like to get done that are not part of my normal routine. Things that I would like to do, not HAVE to do, things that make me feel productive, like a better person, like a good friend, like a good wife. Here's my list for tomorrow:
- Organize Indian clothes in cabinet.
- Make Tasha's annual check up appointment.
- Work on bridal shower stuff and send out updates.
- Order new thank you and blank cards.
- Contact friends about Friday night get together.
Do you do something similar to this? Different than this? Any other ideas for me try? Share with me. I'm interested.
If you want to read the other resolution chart posts, here they are: