Here we are galloping straight into 2015 at full force. At the beginning of the new year, it seems like most of us are in the midst of evaluation and examination. Often, this time is about reflection on the past year and making resolutions for the year ahead. It seems like often resolutions come from a space of “I am failing at this, neglecting this and or not doing this enough.” What happens when we refocus intentions settling to a space of radical self love and acceptance. I love myself so much that I deserve to take time for more life affirming additions to my life.
I am particularly curious about creating positive habits. Most of us have good intentions when shifting to more positive habits around health or routines. Maybe we think since we let go of an exercise regiment or scheduled times for creativity last year that now we want to get back to five days a week. But how can we expect ourselves to be fully engaged now? What is realistic when creating positive habits that comes from a place of self-love?
So when creating positive habits how can we begin from the source of deep caring for ourselves? It may begin by adding an affirmation, one of my favorite connected to EFT, short for the Emotional Freedom Technique: Even though I am dissatisfied with the amount of time that I am dedicating to this endeavor, I completely love and accept myself. Or making micro-movements by setting small intentions, like doing 10 minutes of exercise a day or scheduling an hour a week with a dream or project. How can we add just enough, that it is supporting and nurturing rather than adding one more “to do” on the list of things? This is the edge, setting intentions that aren’t a major overhaul to your life, but are achievable and possibly creating sustaining habits for the long term.
Another thing I have been wondering is how to cultivate a state of mind or state of being through habits. It might be that we want to connect more to the state of more calm, or creativity or joy. Maybe the creating peace will include adding meditations, physical exercise, mantras and/or nutritional awareness. Cultivating creativity may mean setting aside regular times for exploration, engaging in workshops or groups that feed this and/or affirmations. Aligning to joy could be regular gratitude practice, taking time to affirm all the areas of your life that create joy and/or engaging in joyful activities. And again how can we make micro-movements in this direction.
So in 2015, how can we begin with more self love and acceptance? How can we focus our energy on confirming the health we want, the joy we want to embody, fulfillment in relationships and confirming our creative brilliant selves? Most importantly, how can we stay curious and fluid in the pursuit of bringing in habits that serve our lives now and in the months to come. So here is to the new year! May it be full of light beyond your imagination.