I was lucky enough to spend this Christmas with both my, and my partners families. Which for those of you who know me, you realise that was something quite special.
However amongst the busyness and joyous times of the festive period, I let my self care lapse slightly. For me, sharing words of meaning to each of you is part of my self care. And so today, in the first week of January I’d like to chat about the idea of simply, beginning again.
Just like the sun rises each and every day, we too can mimic this action and start again each day fresh and with renewed motivation to seize the day, achieve our wildest dreams and change your life.
Mindset
Often there’s an internal struggle when it comes to beginning something again that we have let lapse. Sometimes the misconception that we have failed takes the foreground and we assume we cannot begin again. However, it is only when we have truly given up on something, that we have failed. Most things that we are working towards, we can just begin again. Try to avoid letting your mind tell you that ‘you will just fail’, or,’ you will give up again.’ Decide that this time really is different and that you will succeed. Getting off the couch and just starting, is the first step towards any goal.
“Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” – Henry Ford
Resolutions
This time of year it is very common for us to create goals and aspirations we would like to achieve in the year ahead. Some we know will lapse, it’s only natural. It’s extremely difficult and time consuming to try to begin multiple new habits. As most of us know, it takes 28 days to create a habit, so try to space your resolutions over the months of the year so you give yourself the time and care to actually fulfil your goals. Actually enter into your schedule or calendar, the date you would like to begin your new habits throughout the year and also enter dates that are reminders to check up on your progress. And if in six months time, we check our list of resolutions and we have lapsed. We can just begin again.
Square One
There is a misconception that beginning again means to start from the very beginning of our journey. This idea would make anyone feel defeated, the thought of completely starting something anew is exhausting. The important factor to remember here is that somewhere along your previous journey, you learned a lot of lessons about yourself, and your goal. These lessons, and possibly mistakes, mean that when we begin again, we are able to do so with an educated mind and avoid traveling the same route that led to us giving up in the first place. We have more tools to help us on our journey.
Health
The most popular resolutions are usually focused around our health; join a gym, eat more vegetables, drink less alcohol, quit smoking. If there is only one thing you are going to focus on beginning again this year, it should be our health. One of my favourite sayings is when someone once asked the Dalai Lama what surprises him most and he said:
“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”
There’s no point in beating yourself up if you eat too much sugar one day. It does not mean your entire diet is ruined. The next meal is your opportunity to begin again and like with most things in life, what we eat compounds over time. Making healthy choices most of the time really does add up over the months and years.
Healthy Choices are not just choices regarding what we put into our bodies, it is about a well rounded health, including making choices that reduce stress or anxiety, for example; beginning a meditation or yoga practice. Choosing to be present and reducing our worry.
It’s your turn
So what are some of your resolutions this year for starting over? Which ones are goals you tried to achieve last year? Which ones have built on from what you already achieved last year?
It’s all very well and good to write a list, but what is your action plan? I challenge you in the coming days to consider your aspirations and list some things that you need to plan into your life to help you achieve each goal. The EXACT steps you need to take, and tell your friends and family about your goals. Having a support network that you are accountable to is a great way to keep you motivated to change your life.
Also, how are you going to avoid lapsing into old habits? Set up some reminders through the weeks and months of the year, possibly in your calendar, to check yourself and your progress. A goal without a plan is just a dream, and this year, I want to help you to succeed in your life and to achieve your goals.
“You may do this, I tell you, it is permitted. Begin again the story of your life.” – Jane Hirshfield
Change your Life
Like many of you, I have multiple aspirations for 2018 but from what I’ve learned, when I get too busy or preoccupied, the things I’m striving for get lost behind the necessities. So, this year I’m going to take my time and my first large goal is to continue sharing my thoughts with you all and hopefully bring a little joy and inspiration to your day.
I would love to hear from you in the comments below with any questions you may have. I would like to hear what goals you are striving for, how they are progressing and how you plan to start again and change your life for the better this year. If you like what you have read please subscribe with your email below the comment section and connect with me on social media.
Good luck and Happy New Year
Love & Light
Lauren x
