New year! New you! New thighs!
Just kidding! I mean, honestly, how crazy can it get out there at this time of year?
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of a fresh start. A new calendar, another year we get to see come to fruition in this lifetime.
It always reminds me of growing up and that feeling in early fall of all the possibilities of a new school year. But why, with the simple drop of a ball, do we heap all this pressure on ourselves?
Instead of New Year’s resolutions, I gravitate more towards a yearly review.
Goals are amazing, and it can be exciting to think about changes we want to make or big things we want to accomplish in a new year. But, as always, hindsight is frustratingly 20/20. So, the end of the year is when I use this to my advantage.
Before I even think about what I want the new year to be, I first have to acknowledge and process what has been. And while holding onto regrets or “could have, should haves” is useless, self-reflection is not.
I always surprise myself when I take a good look back through the year. What did I accomplish? What surprises did life throw at me? Did I lose anyone I love? Did I make any new connections that have brought meaning to my life? What have I endured? Which new places have I experienced? What happened to me that felt so hard, yet I am better for having overcome it but also so grateful it’s over?
Having lived it, you would think you already have all the answers, but it’s amazing what comes up for you when you really take the time to dig deep and write it all down.
So maybe instead of using the New Year to beat yourself up about failed resolutions or set crazy goals so you can change things you don’t like about yourself, you can instead give yourself the gift of self-reflection, celebrate everything you have been through, and show yourself some love.
You are most likely stronger than you think you are, have accomplished more than you even realize, and have a crazy amount to be grateful for in your beautiful, imperfect life.
And from that place, with that energy, are where goals closest to your heart and true change for your greater good become attainable. Happy New Year!
