Happy New Year! Welcome to 2016 and all the new possibilities it brings…………
Do all these posts on social media about everyone’s fabulous New Year’s resolutions make you feel inadequate or anxious? Personally, I feel guilty for not making any resolutions or making them public, then to top it off, a sense of failure kicks in. This equals Anxiety ‘that I’m not good enough’!
New Year’s Resolutions – Change?! Me?!
2015 was a year that kicked my butt, not the other way around. I really went through some tough stuff and hit some serious lows. So my only resolution for the new year is to keep putting my best foot forward. Why my best foot? Well, I was going to say, to keep putting one foot in front of the other, but perhaps I could trip over that foot if I don’t look, think and consider my choices first. In fact perhaps not thinking nor being mindful was a big factor in the crappiness of 2015.
Its my desire to make progress, to move forward. Every step, whether forwards or backwards, is progress towards the destination, part of the journey of life. I don’t know where the destination is. As they say life is a journey not the destination. I’m headed towards better things, a happier mindset and being more considerate of others.
I could revert to old ways or bend to the pressure from social media to make resolutions to lose weight, get fitter, eat better, be healthier, be happier, be a better Mum, be a better wife. None of these are bad, but if I fail, the consequences for myself and my self esteem are disastrous. In fact it could trigger a downward spiral of my mental health. Rather, I can view each choice, as I make it, and decide whether I am making the best choice for me in that moment with all factors considered. Perhaps eating a square of dark chocolate after dinner, or hot popcorn at the movies is my best foot forward. (better a square or 2 of dark chocolate than a whole tub of ice-cream)
I’m also going to do what works best for me. After my hospitalisation I had lost all fitness and needed to gain the motivation to get moving again. So I returned to my favourite yoga studio and soon got my groove and namaste on! For me an hour of yoga is a workout for both body and mind. I feel so much better for doing it, so I rewarded myself with new yoga gear for 2016 – to keep that motivation happening. My husband gave me a Fitbit for Christmas, a hint perhaps, but I’m using it to keep me accountable for my choices. Some days like today super hot 39degrees, I’m not going to get anywhere near 10,000 steps, but I’m cool with that, as I swim in the pool 😉
What choices, or changes are you making for 2016? Perhaps you are focussing your year with a word, like my friend Kelly Exeter @alifelessfrantic whose word for 2016 is ‘Abundance’.
Whatever you do for the start of 2016, do it for you. You are worth it!