I, like many people today have thought about what changes I would like to see for the next year, and over the past few weeks have discussed with many of my patients changes that they would like to see in their lives as well. While good intentions abound, commonly we are too strict, too drastic about what we would like to see from ourselves in coming up with these resolutions. I would like to see your (and my!) resolutions work, so perhaps it is time to think about what is possible from yourself and what you can truly achieve.
If Chinese Medicine has taught me anything, it is that moderation in all things is necessary and the key to a long, healthy life. Aristotle is first credited with the phrasing of "everything in moderation" and this is truly the key to lasting, life-changing resolutions. Perhaps that resolution of cutting a food or food group out of your life or going on a crash diet isn't necessary.
The key to the chocolate/cheese/carb/food (or whatever you have decided to cut out of your life) dilemma is to eat enough of what you are craving and then stop when you are no longer craving the item. It sounds simple, right? I know that such a concept is so simple that you perhaps would not even consider it. But try this- the next time you are sitting down with a big bar of chocolate, or a big plate of pasta, piece of pizza, or even a drink, eat or drink five bites or sips and sit back for a moment from your plate. Do you really want more of this item or has your craving been sated? The key to eating in moderation is one of complete consciousness- do not simply eat because you are bored, depressed, or feel like you should because the timing is right. Get in touch with yourself, find out what you are actually hungry for and eat it until you are no longer consciously hungry for that item. You can always put the extras back in the fridge for later.
Another resolution that people commonly talk about is exercise. Starting January 1st, you are going to go to yoga five times a week, or are going to do the elliptical, go to swimming classes, or start running every day. The theme of moderation and a moderate build-up can again be applied to this resolution. If you have been sitting on your couch for the last five years and haven't gone to yoga class in two years and your elliptical/treadmill/fancy machine has been collecting dust for longer than you can remember, you are not going to likely be able to keep a resolution of exercising every day for an extended period of time. In fact, if you haven't exercised in a while it is not suggested that you suddenly decide to do a marathon.
Sit down and think about what you can do to slowly gain momentum with an exercise routine, taking into account how much time realistically you can put towards this, and take into account how many couch potato vs. non- couch potato days you would like to have starting out. How about 10 minutes a day three times a week? Sounds like an easy goal, but achieving that goal means that the next week you can exercise for 15 minutes four times a week, and so on. Six months from now, wouldn't you rather have built up gradually to exercising three times a week for thirty minutes (the suggested amount for good cardiovascular health) rather than exercising five times in January and then reverting back to old habits?
The last resolution (which I can hopefully be of service to you) is one of health. There are so many people in some sort of chronic pain, battling depression or anxiety, dealing with everything from headaches to jaw pain to stomach and intestinal issues to the common cold and flu that would love to have a new lease on their health and feel great in the upcoming year. A new year is a great time to evaluate the state of your health realistically and decide what you would like to change about yourself physically and emotionally. Regular acupuncture, craniosacral, energy work, and bodywork can help you feel more in touch with yourself and alleviate physical problems as well as provide for a sense of emotional and physical balance and moderation overall in the new year.
Perhaps when considering resolutions, it is only natural to think of failure. And if you start out and don't exercise that one day or eat cake or smoke that cigarette, it is natural for most people to have a relapse into their old patterns. If this happens, acknowledge and accept that you have made an error, and figure out how you can realistically make the change or see the end goal that you would like.
Feel free to contact me with your resolutions, or make an appointment so we can discuss your health and changes you would like to see for the new year!