A New Year, A New You!

The new year is a great time to make changes within yourself and your life to reflect what you’d like to create. The first few months of the new year can have a spaciousness since the holidays have passed and there is often less to do during the winter months. Finding time to contemplate on what you’d like to create within yourself and your life, set goals, and plans to bring them into your reality can be a gift to yourself. Many people are more motivated for change at the beginning of a new year. If this is true for you, take advantage of the motivation, inspiration and sense of renewal. If not, taking a few smalls steps in the direction you want to head can help to get the ball rolling.

I encourage you to be very mindful of the activities you engage in and the habits/patterns you repeat. Taking an honest look at the aspects of your life are beneficial and the aspects that are outdated or counterproductive can help you to decide what to continue with and what needs to go. We often engage in activities and habits that don’t serve us by habit and lack of awareness. As the saying goes, “If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you always got.” Putting intention and consciousness behind everything you do can yield powerful results.

The winter months are a great time to do some cleaning up and clearing from the outside-in. Many people have reported feeling lighter and more organized after doing some deep cleaning and/or getting rid of things that they no longer need or that don't serve them.  It may be that positive feeling of accomplishment when such endeavors have been completed or the feeling of freedom from letting go.  Additionally, it feels great to donate those things we no longer want to someone who is in need.  It can take some motivation to get started on cleaning, clearing and organizing projects, but the benefits are well worth it.

We can also affect our external world by creating and clearing space internally.  Are there emotions, attachments, relationships, and/or habits within yourself that you would like to release?  Are there activities you still do that are no longer of benefit? Are there people you spend time with that drain your energy or you no longer enjoy?  These questions are worth contemplating and if the answer is yes, now is a good time to release that which no longer serves you in order to create more spaciousness.

Perhaps time spent with a therapist or life coach could be beneficial. It is possible that starting or improving upon your exercise regimen, bettering your current eating habits, taking up a new activity or spending time with a new friend might be enjoyable. Making more space for yourself to take pause, contemplate and/or relax could be what you do with the additional space created. We can sometimes feel resentful of the time and effort given to others when we are not spending enough time meeting our own needs. Self-awareness regarding personal needs and responding to those needs can help us to restore balance and peace within a busy life.

I encourage you to think on these things and put intentions into what you want to keep, release and bring into your life. It is helpful to evaluate that which is working well and no longer working well in your life. Contemplate how you can make space and take action. The new year is a great time to focus on a healthier you and the life you'd like to create!