Are you kicking around new commitments today? We don’t talk about new year’s goals anymore, because perhaps after years of trying it’s safer to keep to ourselves. This time of year, we eagerly write down our dreams for the next 365. Then, as the rhythm takes hold of our days, we slowly hear the fizzle.

I set goals every year – an expected ritual, which usually declares, “Lose weight and exercise more.” Or, “Save money and pay off debt.” Perhaps, you too?

If you disagree with me and have incredible success with each year’s goals, you may as well stop reading now. However, keep reading if you ponder like me, “Why are our new year’s goals pierced with uncertainty and struggle?”  I’ll tell you why: we are doing it wrong.

Our goals hang out in the future, without an anchor in today. You may be familiar with the definition of depression and anxiety: depression can occur when our mind lives in the past; and anxiety can occur when our mind lives in the future. How much of my life have I lost by living in the past or the future? No wonder my new year’s goals haven’t worked.

Taking a lesson from my son, shown preparing the soil for his carrot seeds this past spring.

On this new year, I am taking a new approach. I am planting seeds instead. When I do – I have to be present. I can’t just walk away.

When I set a goal:

  • It feels like WORK to get there
  • I sense I must STRUGGLE along the path
  • It unconsciously says I may FALL short
  • Only SOME succeed

When I plant a seed:

  • I automatically begin with a sense of wonder and curiosity
  • I am eager to spend time with my seeds, to witness how they unfold at every stage
  • I treat them with great tenderness and care. I must regularly water, give sunlight and touch its leaves and soil
  • Although I want to see it bear fruit in the future, I can’t worry about that now. My focus is tending to my garden as it is today

Today, I am planting my new year’s seeds with all of you. I carefully open my packets and place hand-selected seeds in this beautiful, fertile garden of 2022. My seeds include:

  • Days that are drenched with golden drops of laughter and love, in strong community
  • Infusion of spirit within these stories, providing a lift across blossoming readership
  • Witness to bold expressions of awakening, across this one collective humanity
  • Trust in my body to heal any mis-alignments, to serve its truest expression while on this earth

What seeds are you planting this year? Perhaps we can visit each other’s gardens, help pull weeds and tell a tale or two along the way. Later, we can celebrate each other’s harvest and pick the finest seeds for next year.

May the seeds of your new year be planted along the path towards your bliss.

With heartfelt love,

Kathy