Rethinking Resolutions & Working With the Moon on Health Goals
By: Jessica Gilbreath
Tags: Lunar Calendar, Mindset Shift, New Years Resolutions, Spiritual Health, Nutritional Guidance

The surge has begun! Every year, usually after December 26th, but definitely by January 1st, floods of people prepare to start anew using the New Year as a (hopeful) resolution catalyst. We all know how that story ends, though: with most resolutions falling off in February and entirely forgotten by Spring. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Making resolutions that stick around, continuously inspire, evolve, and bring us joy is entirely possible. The thing is, I think many of us are just approaching resolutions wrong. An intention without an emotional drive or actionable steps is just a dream, in my opinion, so here are some resolution plan alternatives you can try…

Side note: if the word resolution doesn’t sit well with you, you’re not alone. I prefer intention, goals, or even spells. Use whatever verbiage resonates with you! Regardless, there is still something powerful about the collective consciousness of self-growth and harnessing the power of new beginnings.

Use Your Feelings As A Compass

When setting goals, I encourage my clients to choose specific areas of their life or health and then set intentions on how they want to feel in that area. By zeroing in on the feeling or emotion you’re searching for, you’ll gain more clarity on the direction and action steps your life needs to move in to get there. What feeling will my goal bring me? How can I feel more of that emotion now? What is my why behind this goal? Does this goal help me become my highest self? What would my goals feel like if they were easy and fun?

Once you’re very clear on the emotion you want to call in with this intention. I suggest creating a positive mantra to remind yourself daily of this feeling. For example, if I want to feel freedom and pleasure around food while still caring for my body, my mantra might be: I am fully nourished and abundant in pleasure.

Create a Clear & Habitual Plan

Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday existence, days Gretchen Ruben. Indeed, when a task becomes a habit, there is no longer a question of “will I _____ today” — it is done. Routines eliminate the need for choices, self-control, and the brainpower that those use, giving us more energy and space to go about living. Change doesn’t happen overnight (you know that), and if we want to really change something, we need to work at it-every day. By gradually making time for your goal each day, it will become a habit. When considering how to make room for your new routine, ask these questions: What is one small step I can take each day/week to reach my goal? How can I be 1% better at this focus each day? How can I hold myself accountable to this habit? How can I be the most mindful in this routine?

Be Open to Change & Check-in Ritually

If this year has taught me anything, it’s that nothing is certain, and my intentions must be fluid — able to flow with life’s changes. We all change daily and, because of that, our hopes and dreams also change frequently. We might charge headfirst into a goal only to get there and realize that we stopped wanting that feeling months ago. By repeatedly setting aside time to check in with ourselves, assess where we are, gain clarity on where we want to go, and rework our plan to move forward, we ensure that our goals and resolutions grow with us.

For this, I love to work with the moon’s cycles. My life, business, and spiritual goals are all interconnected, so planning my goals with the moon only makes sense! If this resonates with you, here is the skeleton framework of setting health and personal development goals with the lunar cycle:

New Moon: New beginnings

Review and reset your intentions, plan how you want to proceed in the upcoming month.

First-quarter: Action!

Work and get to action on your routine and plans.

Full Moon: Celebrate Wins (& Release Losses)

Recharge and reset, release what is no longer serving you, and give thanks for your progress so far.

Third Quarter: Refine

Wrap up any loose ends. Rework what needs to be and break down what you need to reset.