I’ve never been one for New Year’s resolutions.

I find them at once overly simplistic and simultaneously overly complicated. Why take something as much fun as life and make it all confusing and burdensome with a bunch of rules we have to impose upon yourselves on the first of every year in the name of ‘self-improvement’? Or whatever.

I mean, chances are if the change we’re trying to make is one we have to actively force ourselves into, it’s not in alignment with who we really are. And if it’s not in alignment with who we really are, it will never, ever, ever stick. Sorry to break it to you.

So what then, do we do? If you’re reading this article, chances are you are a conscious minded individual, interested in expanding your own horizons, challenging yourself to new ideals, and growing as a person in the year 2014, and beyond! And believe me, I admire this. I feel much the same! And I’m not saying we should never have goals or dreams. Dreaming, fantasizing, future-thinking are all necessary to our growth as creative individuals and bring the spark to our desire!

What I am saying is let’s simplify. Instead of creating a bunch of arbitrary rules for ourselves this year about how we’re going to lose the last five pounds, take exactly two spin classes and one yoga class plus do 20 minutes of ab work per week, stick to that juice cleanse, read more books, get that promotion, whatever, let’s just make one rule.

Let’s make it a good one, not too restrictive, with lots of wiggle room for us to explore the realm of what we truly enjoy, to learn, to grow, to change. Let’s make it something exciting. Let’s make it something that makes our souls sing! Let’s make it…

Live What You Love.

That’s it. It’s that simple.

If we pledge to ourselves that starting now (because why wait until January first?) we will live exactly in accordance with what it is that we love, what we value, what we cherish, what brings joy and meaning to our lives, we will never ever need to make another resolution.

Ever.

We won’t need to make any more rules for ourselves. By living what we love, we’ll automatically be setting ourselves on exactly the perfect path of growth and development in every moment.

But wait…what if I don’t know what it is that you love? Well, that’s where I would start. Hey, it’s ok! Lots of us have been so stuck in thinking about the minutiae of what we should want (six pack abs, a high level power job, the perfect mate, to be the best at what we do, success on every level!) we’ve never, or very seldom, given ourselves permission to think about what we really truly honestly from the bottom of our very souls love and desire and want to create in this world.

Now is the time to ask the questions. What do I love? What do I value? Not because someone else tells me that I should, or that I’ll be a good person if I do, but what do I really love? What gets me out of bed in the morning? What brings meaning to my life?

These aren’t easy questions, but deep down, we all know the answers.

This year, let’s get in touch with that. Let’s forget resolutions. Instead, let’s give ourselves the freedom to discover what we love. And when we do, let’s absolutely insist on living it. Freely, fiercely, fearlessly. Let it be the guiding force force behind all our decisions. Let it be the star that guides us home.

Once we establish what we love and desire, we can begin to check our behavior. Watch ourselves. Ask ourselves if our thoughts, choices, and actions are in alignment with what we love, what we desire, what we value. If it is, awesome! Good for us! Pat on the back! If it’s not, we notice that. We don’t judge, just notice…and adjust accordingly.

What we’ll be doing by living this way goes far beyond any New Years resolution. What we’ll be doing is creating a new paradigm for living. A new blueprint for manifesting our desires, bringing your dreams to life, and truly living with integrity.

I know it’s a cliche, but it’s also the truth: life is short. We’re in these human bodies to experience the world and all that comes with it. Now is the only time we have. Why weigh ourselves down with arbitrary resolutions? This year–and forevermore!–resolve only to discover what we love and to live it to the fullest. It’s the only resolution we’ll ever need.

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Editor: Bryonie Wise

Photo: courtesy of the author