Happy New Year!
I started the New Year with a resolution of organization and consistency. Since I have not written here since the end of last year, it looks like I have already broken this one quicker than any past New Year’s resolutions.
But don't be quick to judge. This resolution has a better chance of sticking and it has already changed my life in a profound way.
This is not my the first time "getting more organized" was my resolution. I have even bought books on how to organize my work to my home. Even a book enticingly named , "The Organized Executive" by Stephanie Winston.
From my experience at try to create more order in my life, I realize my problem was not that I was not an organized person or that I needed to learn more about how to organize myself. The problem was my desire to do too much resulting in over scheduling and being receptive to last minute changes and additions to that list.
Therefore to keep promises of positive change – whether it is about how we look or how we behave --can only occur with a clear understanding of ourselves and the real cause of the unwanted situation.
My workaholic lifestyle with its vicissitudes was creating excess Vata (for information on Yata and other Dosha types at http://our-metamorphosis.blogspot.com/2009/04/ayurvedic-doshas.html) and all my knowledge of anti-aging skincare was not hiding the extreme dehydration and fatigue that unbalanced my body’s systems and will lead to disease. Negative Vata tendencies in my thoughts and emotions were negatively affecting my cognitive abilities and my relationships.
So last fall when the Vata energies were in full force, I arranged to began the New Year at Dr Lad’s Ayurvedic Institute in New Mexico. I was looking forward to have the two week cleanse and rest help me create the needed balance in my daily life and to clear away the unwanted symptoms of my obsessive habits and indulgences. But it was up to me to rein in Vata's love of change and freedom with a more organized and predictable life.
Dr Lad and my personal Ayurvedic Counselor Suzana prescribed herbs and treatments that would balance my Doshas which in turn gave me the ability to realistically create a more structured life that was based on my individual needs and wellbeing.
I had planned to write my blog and to do some administrative planning during my two weeks of Panchkarma. Instead I let go of my over active mind and the counter-productive plan and spent the time contemplating with the guidance of Dr Lad and Suzana where I wanted to go in personal growth. I was given herbs to help reduce my Vata tendencies to be active and impulsive and to build back my energy and reduce symptoms of imbalance.
I finally develop a clear plan I knew I could follow. I did not just organize my work but included my daily routine for diet and exercise along with time out for a real personal life. My personal life had deteriorated to just dinners with my daughter and my partner. I was so addicted to my work, I could not easily plan extended time with them.
I have been back two weeks now. There has been no blog entry but not due to not staying on my plan. I had to postpone writing my blog to assume unexpected duties of bookkeeping. ----If there ever was a activity that could be considered the antithesis of Vata, it would be bookeeping.---
Since the resolution' main goal was to create organization and balance in my life, I had the difficult task of priortizing my work duties and not give up personal time to unexpected work demands. Good sign number 1 - I took up the duties of mundane but critical duties of bookkeeping -- Good sign number 2
So if you have a poor record of keeping New year's resolutions or any promises other time os the year, perhaps the problem is not your character but your understanding of yourself and the unique aspect of the unwanted predicament.
I find the popular resolutions to lose weight or joining a gym are also the most likely to be broken --- as early as February. Perhaps one needs to understand what activities one enjoys before palnning and committing. If you need help in keeping the promise of increasing physical activity, I recommend using Ayurveda to guide you in finding a health promoting activity that is more suited to your individual make up.
When it comes to weight loss, I recommend also recommend the help of Ayurveda to know yourself better before choosing one of the multiple ways to weight loss. The "one diet for everyone" do not take in account the underlying cause of the unwanted weight. I have known people who gain weight due to food allergies and others due to insulin resistance. Some people like Kaphas (for information on Kapha and other Dosha types at http://our-metamorphosis.blogspot.com/2009/04/ayurvedic-doshas.html) and diabetics have a slower metabolism. Depression and some prescription medicine can affect weight gain. I also do not recommend weight loss programs that ask us to buy precooked packaged food. Not only is this food the least nutritious but according to Ayurveda, Kaphas should not eat leftovers as they slowdown metabolism further.
We should not be discouraged when we encounter difficulty or fail to follow our new plan to the letter. Focus on the big picture - the overall plan - and the overall outcome not on the dailyups and downs.