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Charlotte Amalie
Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesCoach Paradise: Resolve to Explain Not Making Resolutions

Coach Paradise: Resolve to Explain Not Making Resolutions

Dear Coach Paradise,
I read your column last week about not making resolutions and I have been taking your advice and picturing me celebrating in a year — thinner, richer, in love and proud of accomplishing and having some things that have been dreams and wishes and wants. But now what? It felt good to create that little scenario, but I feel like I need more to go on. It kind of felt like the champagne bubbles — tingling and alive, but I can't drink champagne as a daily beverage. I'm looking for the Got Milk version — something I can live with and depend on, if you get my gist. Is there more to this than meets the eye?
Signed,
What's Next in Paradise?
Dear What's Next –?
The fact that you are asking this question bodes well for your Dec. 31, 2008, celebrations turning into fireworks. The bubbles are important for keeping the zest and energy flowing so that you stay excited about your destination. I write an ideal scene a couple of times a week, more or less. I tweak it, add and subtract elements, and embellish like crazy. This keeps me focused and excited about what I want. I always write it in the first person and as though it has already happened. This is bubbles as oatmeal … your regular paradise tonic … a standby tool in your creation tool chest.
Leaving the bubbles behind for a minute, what I do is focus on one or two (three at the most) areas of my life in which I am eager to see changes. Envisioning my result, I ask what steps will move me closer to that result.
Example: I am planning on walking through the French Alps next summer for a couple of weeks. I am really excited about this, but know that to enjoy and complete my walk I need to increase my fitness level. So … if you see me walking up and down the hills of St. Thomas, you will see the (literal) steps I am taking. Set intentions. Write them down, post them and repeat them daily.
— I set an intention to incorporate exercise and healthy choices into my everyday life;
— I set an intention to welcome other people into my life as health buddies; and
— I set an intention to appreciate and honor my body and how it serves and supports me.
So, now you have the ideal scenes getting you all jazzed and reminding you of what your are up to in a fun and joyful way. Next you have come up with several intentions to get you where you are going and keep you focused. Lastly, create some "affirmations." Post them as screen savers or where you see them a lot. Carry them around with you and look at them throughout the day to raise your energy and remind you that you have already arrived — as long as you keep heading in the right direction. Examples of affirmations:
"Every day, in every way, I am getting fitter, stronger and healthier in an easy and relaxed manner, in a healthy and positive way."
"Every day, in every way, I am getting better at listening to my body's wisdom and choosing health and well-being in an easy and relaxed manner, in a healthy and positive way."
What will really up your chances of success is to get a coach or join a coaching group. This is a surefire way of staying focused and on track, and will help you dissolve obstacles and turn them into growth bumps on the road to creating your version of paradise.
To your outrageous success in 200GREAT!
Coach Paradise
Editor's note: Coach Paradise (AKA Anne Nayer), Professional Life Coach, is a member of the International Coaching Federation, an MSW clinical social worker-psychotherapist and a medical case manager with 30 years experience working with people of all shapes, sizes and challenges. For further information about her services, call 774-4355, visit her website or email her.

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