Reset and Reimagine your 2024 Resolutions in March:

Embracing Guiding Principles for Personal Growth any Time of the Year.

Can you believe we are embarking on the third month in the new year already? Let’s be honest though…many of us that penciled in our ‘new-year-new-me’ mantras on our calendars and in our social media bios are now doing a double-take at the end of February. Each year, millions embark on the journey of crafting New Year's resolutions, aspiring to enhance their lives. Typically, individuals focus on adopting healthier habits, fostering spiritual growth, acquiring new skills or hobbies, and managing finances more effectively.

Recently, there has been a shift away from traditional resolutions, possibly due to the challenges of achieving them. This prompts the question: should we live by resolutions or embrace guiding principles? The idea here is to take gradual steps, forming a pathway that ultimately leads to achieving overarching goals throughout the year.

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a guiding principle is described as "an idea that influences you significantly when making decisions or contemplating matters." While we often associate guiding principles with structured workplaces, they can also be applied on a personal level to drive self-improvement and ensure a successful year.

Personal guiding principles serve as fundamental beliefs that steer us toward bettering ourselves. Take, for instance, principles such as avoiding procrastination, practicing kindness, adopting a mindful approach to eating, confronting fears, completing tasks we start, recognizing the brevity of life, acknowledging the principle of "no pain, no gain," and embracing the concept of working smarter, not harder. And in this never-miss-a-moment culture, who hasn’t heard the famous acronym YOLO? [You Only Live Once…for those in the dark].

In lieu of traditional resolutions, let’s choose to adopt guiding principles that can be applied throughout the year— call it a restart in March, June, or November. This approach allows for flexibility, as you are not confined to a singular goal at a set time of the year. Instead, by focusing on these principles, you can gradually accomplish smaller tasks that ultimately pave the way for the larger achievement— like buying that dream house, taking that luxury travel experience, or getting that degree! As the saying goes, don’t discount the smaller steps taken towards the ultimate goal!

Written By the Staff at BellaNoire