Another year has come and gone, and as the clock counts down, we turn to the past year, looking at all of the things we’ve done and all the things we want to do with the next year.
I remember as a child and even as a teenager, when the first
of the year came around, we would pass around pen and paper and begin writing a
list of all the things we wanted to accomplish this year – our New Year’s
Resolutions. Although the resolutions changed as I grew older, there came a
time in my life where it was just the same resolutions being written over and
over again – because I had given up on them the year before.
Every year, the clock counts down, the ball drops, and we
start the year off with a list of things we want to do, often with tasks such
as “lose weight” or “start a diet” at the top of the list. We’ll stick to it diligently
for a week or a month, but then the inevitable happens and we slide back into
our old ways. Why? Because a New Year’s Resolution is just a list of wishes,
and, outside of a Disney movie, simply wishing for something is enough.
So instead of a list of wishes,
let’s make a list of promises.
Promises to find the lighter side of things and promises to love and respect
ourselves and our bodies. Instead of a list of wishes to forget about next week,
here is a list of things we can do to make 2014 the best year yet.
Gratitude Jar – Starting January 1st,
keep a jar in your home, maybe in your living room, kitchen, or bedroom,
someplace where you won’t forget about it. You can chose to decorate the
jar or just use a mason jar. Write the good things that happen to you on
slips of paper to keep in the jar. This can be big events, like a job
promotion or an accomplished goal, but it can also be the little things in
life. A moment that made you laugh or smile or a joke shared with a
friend. Anything that can make you happy can go into a gratitude jar. When
the year ends, open up the jar and see all of the wonderful things the
year gave you.
Gratitude Journal – This can be done in conjunction of the gratitude jar or instead of. Find a journal or a notebook and make it a point to write in it every day. Write about something you are grateful for and something positive in your life. Try to write in the journal each day, but don’t beat yourself up if you miss a day or even a week or month. You can always come back to your gratitude journal. Read it on a rainy day to inspire you, and try to find the beauty in each day.
Meditate – A daily meditation practice has countless benefits for both the mind and body. There are many different ways to meditate and you can choose which style of meditation is best for you. Some prefer a guided meditation (there are countless videos to choose from on YouTube), while others prefer to sit in silence and focus on deep breathing, maybe while practicing pranayama (breathing techniques found in yoga practices).
A simple way to begin a meditation practice is by what is called a “body scan”. Simply bring your awareness to each part of the body and focus on relaxing any areas of tension. You can also silently repeat a mantra or daily affirmation. Some benefits of meditation include: decreased stress and the stress hormone cortisol, lowers blood pressure, decreased anxiety, and increased circulation.
Starting a daily meditation practice is simple. Begin with just a couple of minutes a day, even if it’s just some deep breathing and calming the mind. Make your meditation practice fit your lifestyle.
Give up
control – Keep working towards the things you want, but understand that
things won’t always go your way – and that’s okay! Don’t beat yourself up and
don’t give up because of a hiccup in your plans. Acknowledge it, accept it, and
continue moving forward.
Find Balance – Instead of making the resolution to get fit or lose weight this year, make a promise to yourself to improve your health and to take care of yourself. Throw the scale out and make yourself the promise to treat your body better. Be mindful of the food choices that you make and remember that food is meant to be nutrition for the body. Do your body good and it will return the favorf. Treat your body with love and respect – you deserve it!
Most importantly, give up dieting for good! So many resolutions are made each year pertaining to diet, weight loss, and fitness, but what we really need to focus on is health and nutrition. Take a nutrition class or set up a meeting with a health coach to discuss your goals and to create a personalized nutrition plan.
Make a Vision Board – The idea behind a vision board is based on the Law of Attraction – the belief that “like attracts like” what you see and believe, you can attract to you. By focusing on positive thoughts, you can attract positive results. A vision board is an excellent resource for realizing your dreams and goals and can be as extravagant or simple as you like, with pictures, quotes, tokens, put together however you like. There are even sites online where you can upload photos, quotes, and motivational words and phrases to make a customized online vision board.
Try Something New – Just like with your veggies, you won’t know if you like it until you try it! Check out your local community center and take a class on something you’ve never done before, whether it’s yoga, salsa dancing, or macramé. Putting yourself out there can be a rewarding experience and you might even discover a new passion.
Most importantly, focus on beginning the New Year on a
positive note. Forget about the past and any regrets you have and look to the
future. When you focus on positive thoughts, you can release the negativity in
your life and ultimately be happier. So ditch the list of wishes and let go of
anything else that doesn't serve you. Make this year about giving you what you
need to live a fuller, happier life, and make 2014 the best year yet.
Happy New Years!
Krystle Hope is a mother, military wife, and owner of Serenity Haven. She is a GoddessLife certified belly dance instructor and a YogaFit certified yoga instructor working towards her RYT-200. Krystle has been inspired to start living a healthier lifestyle, and is currently studying holistic health and wellness at Southwest Institute of Healing Arts. Krystle offers Holistic Health and Wellness Coaching as a Certified Life Coach and Holistic Nutrition Specialist. Krystle is on a lifelong journey to empower women, and she is learning more about herself every step of the way. To find out more, visit www.SerenityHavenStudio.com or email krystlehope@gmail.com. You can also find Serenity Haven on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SerenityHavenStudio.
