What We Miss When We Rush Into Health Goals
Earlier this week, a family member received a cancer diagnosis.
When I heard the news, I was sitting down to write content about New Year's Resolutions.
And it felt so strange to be writing about losing ten pounds when there are much bigger, scarier things happening in the world.
It brought up a lot of internal conflict about what to give attention to at this time of year.
So instead of more of the usual January conversations about weight loss goals and building healthy habits,
I want to offer a perspective shift as we head into the holiday season.
If one of your “problems” right now is wanting to lose weight or get in shape next year, I want you to pause for a second and really take that in.
Not to judge it.
Not to minimize it.
But to put it in context.
The fact that you even get to think about a goal like that says something important about your life right now.
It means you have enough stability, safety, and mental space to think beyond survival.
You have food security.
You have access to care, information, and choice.
That is not something everyone has.
And this is where people sometimes get uncomfortable, so let me be very clear.
This is not me saying weight loss goals are silly or selfish.
This is not me saying you shouldn't want to feel better in your body.
This is not me telling you to “just be grateful” and stop wanting more.
It is simply a reminder of how privileged this problem actually is.
There are people in the world deciding whether to feed themselves or their children today.
You are deciding whether to intentionally eat less food.
That contrast matters.
Not because it should create guilt, but because it changes the energy you bring to change.
When goals come from frustration, self-criticism, or dissatisfaction with your life, they rarely stick.
You are trying to fix something you believe is broken.
But when goals come from gratitude, they feel different.
They sound more like:
“I love this life, and I want to take care of it.”
“I respect my body, and I want to support it.”
“I am grateful for what I have, and I want to intentionally build on it.”
That is the mindset that creates follow-through.
And here is the part most people miss:
If you do not appreciate your current life, you will not appreciate the next version either, no matter what changes.
Not after the weight loss.
Not after the goal is achieved.
Not after the next milestone.
There will always be another thing to fix.
The holiday season is actually a beautiful time to sit with this.
To notice what is already good.
To recognize how much you have.
To feel genuine gratitude for your current existence.
Not instead of wanting change.
But alongside it.
When we make the choice to feel grateful about where we are, while striving to create something more, our lives are filled with greater joy and purpose.
It changes how the journey feels and directs your attention to what is working, which increases motivation and confidence to keep going.
So before you rush into goal-setting mode, I want to leave you with a few reflection questions:
What does it say about my life that this is the problem I am working on right now?
What parts of my current life am I already grateful for, even if I want to improve them?
If my goals came from care instead of criticism, how might they look different?
You do not need to have perfect or complete answers.
Just taking the time to honestly reflect can bring about a new awareness that completely changes your perspective as you head into the new year.
P.S.
If you want support in using this season intentionally, Part 3 of my Resolution Runway series is happening this Friday, 12/19 at 1pm Eastern. We will break down the psychology behind the "fresh start" feeling and show you how to use it in a way that supports your goals. You can join the session for free inside The Messy Practice.
