This post originated with the creation of a blog post on New Year’s Resolutions. I’m trying to keep my blog area focused on inspiration. So, instead of posting this in that area, I’m adding it to my website’s opinion section.
Yesterday, on my blog, I suggested some reasons that resolution brain lets us down:
It fixates on our failures, deficits, and weaknesses
It promotes suffering by triggering loss of hope and depression when resolutions fail
It highlights our sense of not enough: we don’t have enough, we aren’t enough, and incites the Hungry Ghost of wanting more.
Today, I want to highlight a few of the more insidious ways that resolution brain betrays us.
Wait before you make any resolutions. If you don’t, your resolutions make may cost you time, vital energy, money, and hope about your ability to change.
The making of resolutions is a time-worn transition marking the beginning of a new year. Usually, we focus on our deficits, and then create a grocery list of needed changes. If we listen to advertisers, it almost literally turns into a shopping list. Who we are wasn’t good enough. So, voila, we’ve bought a laundry list of things or apps we’ve been told will help us feel better about ourselves.
Imagine you’re asked to fetch a ball. Without arms or legs.
I’m sorry. I can’t. In fact, the very fact that you ask is is insulting and cruel.
But, is it possible we could, at the very least, contemplate working it out: how could I fetch a ball without arms or legs?
We’ll come back to that in a second.
Do animals play?
Yes, it seems some do. But, you have to take into account the definition of play. If an animal does something once, it’s likely a fluke. If the animal does it multiple times on it’s own, it’s possibly play. If the animal does it on request, it might also be play.
The days are cooler with the onset of Fall and Winter. My skin cuts more easily. It’s dried out.
You, too?
Lotion may be part of the answer. It might help the scratches, the itching, and it might reduce skin discomfort.
But, I’ve brought up lotion for another reason. I want to encourage you to apply it regularly. Slowly. Thoughtfully. Mindfully.
Notice how it feels to touch the skin. To care for myself. To feel the fingertips glide across the skin. What does the sensation of added moisture feel like?
We just added a new podcast episode, Listening to Your Own Deep Space. This episode is available on Apple podcasts.
If you prefer to read my blog post that came out before the podcast, you can check it out here.
I like taking quizzes to see what I’ve learned. If you enjoy taking easy quizzes (which can also do something for your self-esteem), the blog post or listening to the podcast episode, check out what you learned here.
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