So at the beginning of the year, I made several commitments to myself. It’s now almost a month into the new year, so how am I doing?

Well, honestly? Not that bad, according to my previous blog post!

I haven’t been moving as much as I’d like as my schedule has been getting disrupted, but that’ll eventually get sorted out!

I’ve been gratitude journaling since Christmas (as the journal was a gift from hubby). I missed a few days, but I reestablished a morning/evening routine that is working with my consistency.

The BIGGEST thing has been my daily art. I REALLY wanted to commit to painting daily. I have a couple watercolor paper books – actual bound books where the pages are permanent, not a block of paper that you pull off to get to a new page – and I am currently 28 days in a row. If I was sick, I painted. If I was busy all day, I painted. I recognized that during the week was challenging – between choosing an image, drawing it out, prepping, and painting – it was hard! So on weekends, I’m prepping the pages for during the week.

It really drove home the saying:

If it’s important, you’ll find the time. If not, you’ll find an excuse.

I’m not saying my other “goals” are bad, or wrong, or unimportant, or anything like that. However, art is very therapeutic for me. It’s like a meditation. And I’ve been searching for that peace for a while. I painted so much while I was off work recovering from surgery, I’m frustrated that it virtually stopped when I went back to work.

And you know what else I’ve noticed since my art practice has become a daily ritual?

I don’t want to scroll mindlessly. I don’t want to play my silly little games. It’s really focusing my energy – if it’s not to do with art, I’m not interested. It’s actually hard not to become hyper focused – which is a common recurring issue with me. I get super duper, hyper focused on something, and it burns me out, so I need to make sure that doesn’t happen!

How can this translate into other areas of your life?

When I create art with my daily paintings, I’m not doing it to make money or to create the perfect painting. It’s the feeling and peace that I’m chasing. That meditative state and the joy.

Don’t chase the end result.

Chase the feeling that it creates while doing it.

Trying to lose weight? Don’t focus on the end result like a clothing size or number on the scale, focus on how it makes you feel while doing it. Yes, some things will suck while doing them, but there’s still that satisfaction of completing a workout. Or getting stronger. Or having more endurance, more energy, better sleep, etc.

This is why it’s SO important to find something that you really enjoy! If you have something that you really enjoy doing, you will do it. You’ll want to do it; you’ll find time for it.

Or maybe there’s a walking or hiking group that you enjoy the people, so you keep showing up.

Now, say you do actually want to lose weight – I know. Unpopular opinion, but one you’re allowed to have. One of the biggest issues that many people have is the eating aspect of it. It’s really not that hard. People know what they “should” and “shouldn’t” be eating. So if it’s so “easy”, why are so many people unsuccessful?

Because eating “healthy” is so boring, and ice cream is so delicious!!!

One way to help with that is learning how to cook quick, easy, and healthful meals! I’m hoping once we return from our holidays, I’ll be able to start cooking on a regular basis and sharing healthful recipes – and, trust me, quick, easy, and tasty is mandatory!

I’ll also start sharing tips and tricks to help you on your journey. You are not alone – wherever you are in it.