Gung Hoi Fat Choi – Happy Chinese New Year
Use Chinese New Year for a fresh start.
Chinese New Year is a time to feast on traditional foods. Chinese New Year Resolutions is an opportunity to re-energize and re-formulate those January 1st resolutions that are running out of steam. New Years is also a great time to review and renew your Feng Shui intentions.
Because Feng Shui is an ever-growing art and science we can use the insights of modern psychology and philosophy to make more effective intentions. Richard Holton, a philosopher at MIT with more than a decade studying choices, decisions and willpower has the following insights:
Tips for Powerful, Effective Resolutions:
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Making resolutions without specific actions will make you feel good about yourself, but will not change your behavior or give you the outcomes you desire.
Make resolutions that are specific, with positive do-able action steps that can become part of your routine. And then do them. Instead of saying “I will lose weight this year.” say “I will eat no more than X grams of carbs a day for healthy weight loss” or, “I will exercise x times a week to achieve a healthy weight of XXX pounds.”
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Once made, don’t overthink your resolutions.
“You can sabotage even the most effective resolution by indulging your thinking mind and rethinking it too soon and too often.” says Holton.
A good resolution is a rule we make for ourselves and follow. It is a choice made that eliminates other choices,
and the chances to talk yourself out of doing something. If you are on a low-carb diet overthinking can lead you to rationalizing a pasta dinner to yourself with “it won’t ruin my diet.”
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If a resolution is difficult to keep ask yourself what is getting in the way.
Look deeper into your motives, emotions and rationalizations. You can gain some positive learning from a “failed” resolution. If you can’t stick to a low-carb diet ask yourself what is preventing this? Do carbs boost your mood? Do you crave sweet carbs? Is this the right diet for you? Are you really motivated to lose weight at this time?
Learn more about psychology and resolutions and intentions with Why Your Subconscious Sabotages You & How to Use Psychology to Craft Successful Resolutions.
Celebrate the New Year with Traditional Foods
Eat a juicy orange-color citrus fruit (orange, tangerine, or clementine). The orange color of the fruit symbolizes gold which represents wealth. The sweetness of the fruit establishes a sweet year for you. If you are on that low-carb diet, eat fish, which symbolizes prosperity.
If you want to learn how to use Feng Shui Intentions to improve your life, contact me for a personal consultation.
photo by Brett Jordan