New Years Yearnings with Lindsay King

Happy New Year from your Coach, Lindsay! This is a fresh time of year, a season of tilling the ground around us in readiness for growth. A yearning is defined as a wish, a hunger or thirst. Isn’t that what a New Year’s Resolution really is; a want, a desire for change? What do you want to change this New Year? A recent article from Boston University talks about making small changes to achieve big results. The human spirit can long for many ideals to become realities, but until a move is made the idea remains in the mind. The article begins by noting America’s “supersize” mindset as being the root of nutritional and body weight problems. The report goes on to identify this grandiosity as being responsible for the difficulty we have making changes. “Every New Year’s Day, many people proclaim new and renewed resolutions to live a healthier life.. they quickly fall apart due to lack of skills, knowledge, support, time, etc,” says Dori Hutchinson of BU. The proclamation to live a healthier life is an aspiration; a breathed statement of yearning. The first workshop I led during my graduate program in Counseling & Coaching was entitled, “Goals & Aspirations.” I taught the curriculum at a center for women with addictions. In this workshop I spent a good amount of time covering the difference between an aspiration or yearning, and a goal. Think of the steps one takes along a path in order to reach an amazing pinnacle atop a mountain. This mountain does not have a ski lift from ground to peak! The steps are goals, and the peak, the aspiration. The hike can be a difficult process, with highs and lows along the way, but the reward at the finish can only be captured by experiencing the journey.

Let’s talk about some ways to set steps for your new year’s journey. Once you’ve explored and discovered your deep longing for this new year of 2010, and have breathed a prayer, write it down! Having pen and paper will help you to clarify your aspiration and hone it into a well-defined, step by step process. Next, use the acronym SMART for creating a goal you’ll reach! SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. For more details on this process, turn to www.goal-setting-guide.com. I’m going to use the aspiration above, “To live a healthier life,” and bring it down to one goal, “Eat a full serving of fruits and vegetables each day for one month.” This goal is both specific and measurable. By taking care of our bodies, it is easier to bring wellness to the mind and spirit, making for a whole and healthy life. This goal is attainable and realistic, as well, contrary to societal myths which imply that a serving of fruits and vegetables daily is near impossible. Did you know you can get a whopping five full servings of fruits and vegetables in a drink called Fruit of the Spirit? This power packed beverage also offers 10 alkalizing minerals from the Dead Sea and 18 Biblical fruits and herbs, with frankincense and myrrh! What a great way to start your new year’s yearning for a healthier life! With Fruit of the Spirit there are significant benefits to your body, including an overall increase in energy, deeper sleep, a boost in immunity and more. The goal is set for one month so that evaluation can take place at the end of the trial. This ensures that our goal is achieved in a timely fashion. After you’ve evaluated your success, it is a cinch to move onto your next “healthy life goals” with more enthusiasm and confidence. Here’s to your New Year Yearnings becoming realities this 2010!

In Faith, Coach Lindsay