The Resolution Solution
by Chad A. Wright
posted Jan. 24, 2005

Here we are well into the first month of the year.  How many, I wonder, have made resolutions and kept them – or broken them already?  Then I wonder what could end this seemingly endless dilemma that repeats itself year after year?



As each New Year rolls its way around, people look back at what they’ve done, and what they’d like to do.  They may have some fear of the future.  They may have some regrets from the past, or anger, or sadness, or any of the spectrum of emotions that their chosen and un-chosen paths may create.  They may have dreams of what they’d like their lives to be, and they may resolve to claim all or part of that.  Sadly, though, many of those dreams and well intentioned resolutions fall short.

Early in life, the planners of resolutions learn certain ways of believing of their places in the world.  They unconsciously believe in these messages; and their breathing and physical holding patterns compliment their deeply felt belief systems. The planners may start believing in their personas so deeply that living according to their true essences becomes unfamiliar and uncomfortable at best.

So resolutions, as we all know, are often merely well intentioned, temporary expressions of creative energy.  Then we regress to comfortable habits that have outlived their usefulness.

We often times allow uncomfortable emotions to freeze or immobilize us, rather than to flow through us as they were intended.  An analogy of this is a boxer who gets hit with a clean blow, and freezes with fear.  This makes the fighter more likely to be hurt further as the fighter tenses up, pulls back into the opponents range, and receives punch after punch in its full power, being tense, allowing the energy to flow into his/her body.  The ideal thing would be to relax (as a drunk driver) seeing every punch coming; slipping in to cut off the power; allowing the energy to absorb into the earth, and roll off like a rear end vehicular collision.

Best selling author and world renowned speaker John Bradshaw wrote on this very subject.  He called emotions “energy in motion”, implying that our emotions are designed to physically move us to be true to ourselves.  He also said that one of the most tragic things is to live your entire life not knowing yourself.  Hendricks seemed to agree: “Healthy people stand and move distinctively….They express feelings fully and congruently: their communication matches their inner experience.”  (I don’t know about you, but these descriptions remind me of a brilliant, articulate dancer).

Then that leads to the resolution solution, which I offer to you as a possible reality.  This could be the last resolution you’ll need for the rest of your life:  Live each moment of your life true to your heart, and you’ll never need a resolution again.



Chad is an occupational therapy practitioner, a bodywork therapist, and a body-centered coach who is an expert in treating pain from physical trauma, psychosomatic disorders, and a multitude of disorders which traditional approaches to healing do not effectively address. Much of his work is aimed at treating the fascia or connective tissue. He is also the developer of Connective Stretching^SM, and is currently authoring a book on Connective Stretching and Self Treatment.

By all means, if you are having health concerns, consult your physician or therapist. If you'd like more information or have questions, feel free to contact Chad at Masterbodywork@comcast.net. Chad Wright © 2005.