Resolutions aren't necessary (but they can be helpful). #pinspirationthursday

Oh, man—the gym is hopping right now! It's that time of year. We employees refer to the new faces as "resolutioners," because that's typically why people join a gym in January. Or why they come back to the gym in January. This is a good thing, of course, as it's always nice to see a crowd of people making strides (literally and figuratively) toward good health and fitness. But here's the thing: A lot of these people disappear again before Spring.

This is common, yeah?

People make resolutions and set goals and get all gung-ho about them, but life ultimately gets in the way and those same resolutions and goals get pushed aside. And then the guilt sets in. I've been there. You've been there. You know that nagging feeling. Part failure, part self-inflicted kick-in-the-pants.

Resolutions are hard. 
Goals are even harder. 

But they don't have to be. See, sometimes I think the words "resolution" and "goal" are enough to make a person squirm. There's pressure involved in both. Pressure we put on ourselves, and we either crack or succeed under it.

If resolutions and goals work for you, then you should absolutely employ them as change tactics. They are not (at all) bad things and can have a very healthy place in our lives. 

But they're also not for everyone.
I repeat: Resolutions and goals are not for everyone.

Sounds crazy, right? Let me explain:

This year, if you've struggle with sticking to resolutions and goals in the past, I challenge you to step outside the box. Don't think in terms of black and white line items you have to abide by. Instead, focus more on the big picture. Because really, it's not about January and starting fresh and getting X, Y and Z done in a set amount of time. That's only part of the story, and it's the part that gives us the most trouble.

The true story is about living life, your life, the way it should be lived day in and day out.
Think outside of the traditional resolution/goal box. Think big picture:

Pin / Source

And then live your life accordingly.

Because when you do that, you live freely, and then it's much easier to enjoy the road to goal achievement, the process of making changes, the transformative experiences and even the little, most precious moments.

Promise yourself.
Do it right now.

Question: Do you make resolutions? Do you use January as a refresh/restart opportunity? How are you approaching 2015?