12/16/2025
âOpen your arms to change but donât let go of your values.â-Dalai Lama Every January, we tend to do the same thingâwe set a New Yearâs resolution. Lose weight. Exercise more. Be less stressed. And if weâre being honest, by February many of those resolutions are already fading. Not because we donât care, or lack disciplineâbut because weâre aiming at the wrong thing.
Instead of starting with a goal, I think it helps to start with a different question: What do I actually value?
Maybe itâs your healthâhaving energy, moving well, feeling clear and strong.
Maybe itâs relationshipsâbeing more present, listening better, showing up for the people you care about.
Maybe itâs communication, growth, balance, or simply peace of mind.
Goals are outcomes. Values are directions. You donât âfinishâ living your valuesâyou practice them.
When we focus on values, the process becomes the priority. So rather than saying, âI want to lose 10 pounds,â it becomes, âI value taking care of my body.â That value then guides daily choicesâhow you move, what you eat, how you restâwithout being tied to a number or a deadline.
I like to think of it like climbing a mountain. The summit gets all the attention, but we spend about 99% of our time on the sides of the mountain, and maybe 1% at the top. If the only thing that matters is the summit, we miss almost the entire climb.
Life is the same way. The meaning is in the daily steps, not just the big moments. When we learn to take value from the process, we become more consistentâand ironically, weâre more likely to reach the outcome anyway.
So this year, instead of a rigid resolution, consider choosing a value. Set your mind on the process. Show up a little more aligned each day. Thatâs where real, lasting change happens. , , ,