“And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ ” (Revelation 21:5, ESV)
I love the promise of a new year. New life. New chance. New hope.
I don’t love long lists of resolutions that foster dread and guilt. The key here is to seek with an open hand and give myself grace, just as I have been given. Every step taken on a good path is a reason to celebrate. As yogi Jen Hoffman of healthymoving.com likes to say, little hinges swing big doors.
Goals motivate me when they are simple and actionable. I know what I want to achieve, and I know that I can achieve them. If they are too specific, the guilt is more likely to set in. I want a goal that is doable and life-giving. In that vein, here are 3 health goals for 2016.
- Walk more. I’ve seen the benefits of walking at different seasons of my life, including my depression earlier this year. In my adrenaline-infused college days, I used to run over mountainous terrain for an hour every day. I was slender and muscular, but I was always tight and stressed, physically and mentally. Slowing my pace to a walk outside has helped balance me, and I could use more of its power in my day-to-day.
- Play more. Play doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Whether it’s cooking a new recipe with a special ingredient, flirting with my husband, hiking with my friends or running around the yard with my dog, I choose to make room for things that give me joy.
- Rest more. Prayer and meditation, yoga, and sunshine are manna to my frazzled heart. The more I make space in my life for the rhythms of work and rest, the more aware I am of being transformed by the renewing of my mind.
Here’s to newness. Restoration. Transformation.
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” (Ezekiel 36:26, ESV)
