Grace: A more elegant, harmonious, and positive way of being.
How many Decembers have you spent planning to exercise more, lose weight, eat healthier, stop smoking, or achieve any other number of deprivation-oriented goals in January? Too many to count, and very few of them will be successful at anything other than making us feel guilty. This year, I’m looking for a resolution or two that will make me immediately happier and improve my quality of life along the way.
Studies show that the kind of resolution I’m talking about – a renewal of sorts, hidden in a seemingly indulgent objective, are more sustainable and lead to more positive outcomes. There are no imposed restrictions, only gentle nudges toward adding personal development, learning, and grace to your life. Here are a few intentions that sound lovely to me:
- Practice gratitude and humility daily. Acknowledge and appreciate the positive aspects of life, both big and small. Gratitude resolutions often sound cheesy, but if you think of something you’re grateful for while you brush your teeth every morning, it sticks with you all day.
- Reduce the number of unread books on your bedside table. My bedside table is sagging under the weight of books I would love to read, and this resolution is almost as delightful an assignment as finishing a box of chocolates would be. As an added benefit, if I read more, I decrease the amount of time I’m on a device.
- “Talk less, smile more.” This quote from Aaron Burr in Hamilton is a reminder to me to practice active listening, embrace the positive, and allow silence. The world can be noisy, hostile, cruel and tragic. Quiet would be restorative.
- I have friends who can shoo negative thoughts right out of their consciousnesses, a skill I admire. It’s not that they are Pollyannas, they just do not get stuck in the negative. It is a form of mindfulness, which when practiced intentionally can help us avoid unnecessary anxiety and stress. In mindfulness, we can find more joy, clarity, creativity, and energy.
I believe any and all of these ideas are about increasing grace in one’s life.
Happy New Year from A Sharp Eye!
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