Feel good, French style

Last week, I turned to the Parisienne for inspiration on juggling the demands of modern life. While the French woman enjoys a certain cachet the worldover, l’Américaine wins the admiration of many of my French friends too.

What seems to draw my French friends in is a certain way of being. L’Américaine sees life as her playground, where anything is possible. In their eyes, she’s enthusiastic, optimistic, and open, less constrained by pre-conceived ideas or social norms, less apt to judge by the cover. It’s no wonder my French friends love brands like American Apparel, Theory and Abercrombie, use English words like “day off” and “healthy” and find cupcakes charmingly delicious. These typify a simple, relaxed, and bubbly culture.

At the same time, Parisiennes are wowed by their fellow New-Yorkaises’ meticulous approach to style. “Everything is perfect from head to toe,” relates one friend, “and she even gets up at 6 to go to the gym!” Gossip Girl-style perfection captivates the imagination and places the bar high.

With a can-do spirit and disciplined approach, the American woman accomplishes a lot. In this, she’s an inspiration to many. But how do we keep accomplishing in ways which energize us, instead of burning us out?

In this season of New Year’s resolutions, here are my tips for meeting your goals in the year ahead.

1. Start with your day-to-day.

Defining future-oriented objectives and visions for ourselves gives us direction. Yet, there is so much to be gleaned about what we want and how we want to live by shifting our perspective not to the future, but to our day-to-day life. How can my daily life feel better? What works; what doesn’t? From how you work, to how you share responsibilities with your husband to where your time is spent, the day-to-day approach offers rich insights.

When your daily life works for you, you feel energized, strong and connected. It’s the ultimate spring board from which to move forward.

2. Focus on the means, not the end.

It’s tempting to focus on the end result with laser-like precision. But, when we hold on to specific outcomes too tightly, I’ve noticed that life loves to trip us up.

Instead, connect your plane to the right fuel tank. Focus on putting into place the means and processes around your goal. Fire up with the juice that works for you; create the environment and support system which spur you on; build on small action steps.

Being in the process feels just as good as meeting the goal. If we further work up the courage to let go and remain open to the results, life has a way of providing fabulous surprises.

3. Practice, practice, practice.

Like many of us with a high-success drive, I’ve often given myself meaty challenges and to-do lists, striving to hit them all, while placing a lot of exhausting pressure on myself.

Something different happens when we approach resolutions as something to practice. We acknowledge that it’s a work-in-progress, a re-iterative process whose feed-back helps in moving forward. Striving to practice resolutions, instead of accomplishing them, allows for missteps, dissolves the pressure, and puts the fun back in your goals.

The past couple of years, I have been practicing a resolution to use less of the Earth’s resources. Going “green” can’t happen overnight, but it does happen every time I whip out my own bag at the register or recycle a bag of textiles at the Green Market. I have a feeling that like most important things, it will be a life-long practice.

What New Year resolutions have got you energized?

Live épanoui*!

Elisa

* in full bloom