Why Resolve Isn’t Enough, and What You Can Do About It.

January is finally here, and with it a flurry of New Year’s resolutions, big and small.  

We want to:

IMG_0180.jpeg

·   Lose weight

·   Declutter our homes

·   Get fit

·   Spend time with friends + family

·   Find our dream job

We’re filled with optimism, yearning for positive change, and excited to get started.

But by Valentine’s Day, nearly 80% of us abandon our bright, shiny resolutions and return, heads held low, to old habits and stale ways of operating.

What can we do better in 2019? How can we stack the odds in our favor, and increase our chances of creating the life we want?

Here are some helpful tips that may just carry you over the finish line, and put you in the company of the 8% of people who reach and maintain their stated resolutions:

iStock-828473600.jpg

  • Plan ahead and think about how you will achieve your goals. Like any destination, reaching goals requires a roadmap. Saying you want to eat more meatless meals is one thing; knowing how to do it in a way that’s healthy, satisfying, and actionable is another.

    Stocking your fridge and kitchen with plant-based ingredients and pantry staples, along with researching what it means to put together a nourishing plant-focused meals, sets you up for success. Planning keeps stress, frustration, feelings of deprivation and, in this case, hunger at bay, making it far more likely you’ll stick to your goals and press on.  

  • Share your resolutions with a trusted family member, friend, therapist or wellness coach. The goal here is to pick someone who truly has your back, and wants the best for you. Frenemies need not apply!  Research shows goals are easier to achieve when we open up, and discuss them with others. It gives your goal weight, and builds in accountability as well as support.  Yep, it really does take a village!

  • Create some wiggle room for slip ups. If resolutions are too rigid – like eliminating entire food groups overnight or ditching alcohol when you’ve been enjoying two glasses of wine with dinner for as long as you can remember - you’re more likely to back-slide, feel discouraged, and lose motivation. Bad days and bad decisions happen. Knowing you can pivot and reset your intentions is powerful. Each day, each meal, each interaction, each moment is an invitation to reboot and move the needle forward.

  • Create goals that really resonate with you! This one’s big! If you don’t feel hyper connected to your New Year’s resolution, likelihood is it’s not going to take. Think about it. Going vegan for a partner is far less likely to stick than going vegan because it’s something you deeply believe in and want for yourself.  

The last bit of inspiration I’ll leave you with is this: Measurable, lasting change takes time, patience, and persistence. Habits aren’t broken and seamlessly replaced with new, upgraded behaviors in 21 days, even if self-help books lead us to believe they do.


So, be gentle with yourself. Speak kindly to yourself. Remind yourself why you made the resolution in the first place, and then tell yourself you are capable and worthy of ALL the good things that will come from following through on your New Year’s promises.

MINDSET with James Mcleod

James McLeod, also known as @ThatVitiligo_Guy, grew up in Peekskill and now lives in Ossining. James is a DJ, certified personal trainer, student and motivational speaker. he is also a model, and has been featured in “CR Fashion Book” and “Vogue Italia”online.  James is also working on a children’s picture book based on his experience growing up with Vitiligo called “The Boy Behind the Face.” He speaks at schools and youth programs throughout Westchester and The Bronx to spread his message of positivity and share his story of “beating the odds”.

James takes the questions:

Q)You’re a personal trainer, motivational speaker, DJ, student, and model. Sounds busy! What’s a typical day in the life of James Mcleod look like?

Coffee + morning inspiration with James

Coffee + morning inspiration with James

No two days are alike, Which is one of the things I love about my life!  Some days, I train six or seven clients in a row. Other days, I spend a couple of hours with clients, head to a school to speak to a group of students, and then head to night school, where I am a student!

You have an incredible personal story. Would you mind sharing some of it?

I have had a skin condition called vitiligo since I was 18 months old.  I was bullied a lot as a child because I looked different. I had a learning disability and gave up on school and myself. As a teenager, I made a lot of poor choices, and I continued making poor choices into my early adulthood. My choices led me to federal prison.  When I was released from prison, I made the decision to turn my life around, and use my experiences of being bullied and making poor choices to help others. I do this by sharing my message of positivity, hope and second chances.

How has your story informed your work?

I try to spread positivity wherever I go and in whatever I do. I encourage my personal training clients never to give up on themselves, or to be embarrassed by whatever they think their imperfections or flaws are. Nobody is perfect!  When I am doing public speaking, my story is the inspiration for my message. When I got into modeling, it was another way for me to embrace my difference, rather than be embarrassed by it.

One of your stated missions is to help people overcome insecurities and fears. How do you help others live their best lives?

In everything I do, when I share my story, whether it be with clients or a group of 200 kids, I try to let it be an example of how to live with insecurity, yet still shine bright.  If I can show people that I can walk into a roomful of 200 kids without fear of having them judge my appearance, and if I can walk the floor of a health club introducing myself to everyone I meet with a smile on my face, then I hope I am setting an example of how to live your best life.  

Who or what inspires you?

I’m inspired by others who share their stories of overcoming adversities and turning their lives around.  One person who really inspires me is @inkyjohnsonmotivate. He was a college athlete whose hopes and dreams were shattered by an injury that paralyzed his right arm.  He has since become a powerful motivational speaker.

Do you have a life philosophy?

One of my mottos is “smile and let your happy shine!”  The more you smile and put positivity out into the world, the more happiness and good things come back to you.  What you give you get. A smile has the power to change someone’s whole day.

IMG_6185.jpg

You recently completed the Organic Pharmer “Five Day Jumpstart” Program I helped create. How was it? Be honest! We want to know how this kind of lifestyle works for an athlete.

You did a great job!  Overall, it was an amazing experience. It gave me a chance to experiment with different foods and see how my body would respond.  Some of my favorites were the Alpha Green, the Power Protein Bar, the Kale & Cauliflower Caesar Salad, the Falafel, the Hummus, the Curry Cauliflower Soup, and the Asian Salad. Some of the meals left me a little hungry, so I added boiled eggs, avocado, and nuts to tide me over.

**Love that! Those are all great additions, and I encourage anyone on the Jumpstart Meal Program to add in clean healthy protein, avocado, nuts, seeds, and greens as needed. It’s about tuning in and listening to your body. This is not a calorie restrictive program.

You don’t normally eat a fully plant-based diet. Do you think you’ll incorporate more plant-forward meals in your diet now that you’ve completed the program?

Absolutely! I’ve been researching some vegetarian recipes for the cold weather months.  I can definitely say I felt really good waking up in the morning and energized during the day while following this program.

What’s next for you? I know you’re incredibly busy and successful, but somehow I feel like you’re just at the beginning of your journey…

That’s exactly how I feel too!  I always want to keep moving forward.  I’m definitely not satisfied, there’s so much more to accomplish, and so much more to learn!  I want to keep crafting my motivational speaking message, I want to share my story with the world!  I want to keep inspiring and helping others!

What would you say to someone who is reading this and needs a little inspiration?

If I can do it, you can do it!  Your attitude is your choice, and your attitude determines what kind of day you’ll have.  A good day leads to a good month, which leads to a good year, which leads to an AMAZING life!

Thank you James for sharing your story, wellness habits and positive message with us! Want to learn more about James? Check him out on Social @thatVitiligo_guy

 
 
Ground Insta 1.png

For more interviews with leading industry experts:

Grounded + OP