Relaxed Strength

Welcome back again, Natural Health Family.

I hope that everyone is doing well. As the new year takes shape, many of us have an inclination to do things differently. Whether it’s a certain goal that we want to achieve, a new habit we want to implement, or just simply doing something new this year. Whatever the case, know that it doesn’t have to take a new year to do something different, but whenever you find you have the desire for change you should go for it. The other side of it is that New Year’s resolutions tend to have the effect where a person will have the urge to do something different for a while but then over a relatively short time they go back to where they were. Let’s explore this topic a little more and see what we can discover. 

Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution and it was effective at creating change? For some it does happen and they do great, for others it doesn’t pan out. So you may wonder, “Why does this happen for some and not for others.” You may think, “Well it is probably genetics," or "Some people have it easier than others," or "That’s just how it goes.” Now, we know that people of many different backgrounds and genetic make up can have very different results, so it can’t be one-size-fits-all. However, there are some key characteristics of people who successfully make the change that can be developed or discovered. Now, of course, we know that some people are built differently too, like Navy SEALs and professional athletes, but we still can find some important takeaways. 

1. In a world of instant gratification, we should learn that many dreams and goals are just not immediately realized. Amazon gives us fast shipping, social media can provide quick dopamine releases, etc. There are many examples. So we need to acknowledge where we are, and that many things can take time, so we should learn to enjoy the process. 

2. When we choose to set a goal, we often fall into the trap of thinking we have to struggle and strain to get it. We tell ourselves that if we don’t achieve it on a strict timeline, we’ve failed. But consider the classic story of the tortoise and the hare. The hare burned out; the tortoise simply stayed in his flow.

3. Allow life to unfold naturally. Many times in life what seems like a set back or failure is actually just what we need. So find some time to appreciate what you have, to learn to slow down, and allow yourself to become the person who achieves their desired goals, intentions, or aspirations. 

Albert Einstein once said, “The same level of mind that created the problem won’t be the one that solves it.” The world will tell you that you should hustle, grind, hurry. Of course there are times where that is needed, however, when we are relaxed and we allow life to unfold, when we are able to accept the help and advice needed, when we listen to our own intuition and gut, that’s when what we want to accomplish can actually be achieved.

I wish everyone a healthy and happy 2026.

-Dr. Chip