Thursday, December 31, 2015

The Final Countdown | THREE QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU FEEL HAPPIER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE FULFILLED IN THE NEW YEAR

By Dominick H. & Katie G.

Art by @honschar

It’s that time of year again. You know, the time of year where we're supposed to reflect on the past 365 days and make promises to ourselves for the future. We resolve to be happier and healthier. We resolve to take the steps to exercise, diet, go for a new job, find a fulfilling relationship, or maybe even take up a new hobby. But, after the month is finished and the excitement of the new year starts to wind down, we suddenly find ourselves back in our old patterns. Hmm, sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone. We’ve been there – and apparently only 8% of people who set resolutions actually achieve them, so we know you’ve been there too.  But, despite the statistics, we're committed to a happier, healthier, more fulfilling 2016. And, to get there, we're doing things a little differently.

We believe that goal-setting is essential. It’s empowering and it’s motivating. However, we often set ourselves up for failure before we even begin. We go too big, too vague, and too unrealistic. We’re motivated by the idea of what should be and we get discouraged when the changes don’t happen overnight. We also tend to be lax in holding ourselves accountable. So grab a buddy, a partner, a family member, or a journal and listen up, because we have some questions for you.

Recent research has shown that asking questions and answering them, rather than making a statement, is key to sticking to your goals.  So, we at project: CLEAN FOOD sat down to ask each other some thought-provoking questions that we're answering publicly for the first time ever. And, we want you to do the same. Are you ready to tackle 2016? Here we go.

1. Imagine you have one word to symbolize the bigger picture of what you want for yourself. What would it be and why?

Katie:
LOVE: Before you think I'm about to sing Kumbaya in a drum circle, hear me out.  Coming from a place of love is going to be somewhat challenging for me, since I know that I am often quick to go from zero to judgement. The idea of love goes way beyond romantic love (although I will always strive to be the best partner I can be). It's a total surrender. It's acceptance, kindness patience, and understanding. And, it's all-encompassing: self love, romantic, family, friends, colleagues, strangers, ideas, and even challenges.

Dominick:
INNOVATION: The beauty of a new year is embracing new ways of thinking. I am committed to expanding the way I think, the way I write, and the way I present myself – both in person and online. Innovation will be crucial to help me start writing my upcoming book for project: CLEAN FOOD. Innovation will also be crucial in allowing me to go deeper in my relationships – exploring the practices of communication, learning to live with someone, and all that comes with that experience.


2. What is one thing you most want to accomplish this year? How do you plan to do that?

Dominick: 
Completing my book. Writing has always been a huge passion point of mine and I am excited to see how it unfolds. To do this, I am going to work through all of my personal experiences and my past work on project: CLEAN FOOD. I am also going to embrace working with like-minded individuals (a first for me, since I tend to tackle projects solo) in the exploration, editing, and production process. 

Katie
Exploring the world. I have dedicated so much of my life to my career up until this point.  It has been extremely rewarding, but has limited my ability to experience and learn from the world in a richer way. I am so fortunate to have a job that encourages travel and a partner that is as curious as I am. My goal is to visit two places in the world that I have never been before. I'm going to do this by setting up a "trip fund" account and contributing to it each month. I'm also going to cut back on my spending in other areas (goodbye clothes and expensive NYC dinners).
 
3. How will I be an example of healthy living this year?

Katie:
By becoming a total ninja in the kitchen. I've only scratched the surface in 2015 and I know there is so much more I can learn.  I am committed to cooking more at home, giving Seamless a rest, and truly understanding the value of what I put in my body. Also, being a kitchen ninja isn't limited to food. I have discovered such a passion for beauty, I am going to continue to experiment with various treatments and share them as I go.

Dominick: 
I'm already a pretty good example of this (kidding, of course). This year, I plan on listening to my intuition more – whether it pertains to my meal choices, my fitness routines, what calls to my soul, etc. So, if it's eating vegan one day and having a steak the nest, that's okay. If it's Jivamukti one week and SoulCycle the next, that's okay. If I feel the need to paint versus write, that's also okay. I want to be honest with myself in all things, since I believe that's what healthy living is all about: balance and honesty.


And there you have it. We're excited to share in this journey with you all in 2016 - to grow, to laugh, and to share our learnings along the way. We're raising our green juices to you all and wish you continued health, happiness and success in the New Year.

Happy New Year from Katie and Dominick!
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