Each new year, you’re bombarded with talk of resolutions or making this your best year yet! I’d encourage you to take a step back before getting caught up in this yearly trend. Instead of setting resolutions, commit to making 2022 a more intentional year.
To make this an intentional new year in dance, consider these 5 simple steps:
1. Celebrate your 2021 wins!
Taking time to reflect on what went well will help you be more intentional moving into a new year. Come up with at least 50 things worth celebrating. Find wins both big and small, and take a moment to acknowledge the small steps you took to make big strides.
It’s supposed to feel a bit challenging to come up with 50 things, but it forces you to open your mind to small wins you might have otherwise overlooked. The more you practice celebrating wins both large and small, the easier it will become to focus on what’s going well.
2. Lead with gratitude.
Who or what are you thankful for? How will you keep attention on all the good that’s in your life? If you’re struggling in the body image department, finding gratitude for your body and all it does to allow you to dance and perform at your peak is a great place to start.
It can also help to acknowledge the good aspects of your current dance environment. If the environment you’re in isn’t nurturing or is in fact abusive, find a place that supports you and helps you see and develop your gifts.
3. Set some intentions for 2022.
I like the “be, do, have” model for creating an intentional plan or process. This means, in order to “have” (or achieve) whatever your particular goal is, ask yourself, “What will I have to do?” and “Who will I have to be?” How can you show up more authentically to move with intention towards your goals?
Most dancers would benefit from taking more intentional action towards self-care and self-support. Do you often reflect on how you’re speaking to yourself? Do you take time to care for your body and mind outside of the studio? Look for ways to implement small acts of self-care each day and weave them into your pre-existing habits. That’s a great way to help them stick.
4. Let your intentions direct some goal-setting.
Make sure you start small. A major downfall of goal-setting (especially for those in the type A category, like most dancers) is setting lofty goals that leave you feeling disappointed 2 weeks into the new year when you struggle to reach milestones quickly. Set goals and create action steps, but make sure you break those action steps down into super small, manageable pieces.
Be very careful with goals around the outer appearance of your body. It’s a common misstep for dancers to hyperfocus on external, aesthetic goals. If you have goals surrounding your body, move the intent inward. Click here for some important questions to ask yourself if you’re interested in changing your body for dance.
5. Allow it to be an ongoing process.
Goals can and should be revised. Things come up in life that might slow you down. Allowing yourself to pivot and adjust during stressful times makes it possible to keep moving forward, even if your progress slows temporarily.
If ever you’re in need of support, find it. All too often, the (at times intense) dancer mindset tells you you’re supposed to struggle alone. It doesn’t have to be a struggle, and you don’t have to walk the path on your dance journey alone. Find support people who lift you up to help you keep taking steps forward.
Ready to make this an intentional new year in dance? The January 2022 round of The Dancers’ Best Body Course + Group Coaching Program is now enrolling. Get the details and save your spot here.
