Beginning a new year has always been a little tough on me. Like, ugly crying when the ball drops because everything is just the best and I don't want anything to change. EVER. Raise your hand if you're with me! When I sat down to journal on New Years Eve morning (a fresh, new journal by the way...how fitting), it hit me that 2016 was the first year (that I can remember) that I didn't feel sad about it ending. 2016 will be one to remember for sure. Personally, it was one of the most trying, but with the challenges came exponential growth that I'm not sure I've ever experienced. The person I was last December is certainly not the person I am today and that's the way it should be.
Maybe you're feeling like it was a tough one too. Maybe it's really hard right now to see the silver lining after this past year. Keep in mind, the most significant people on this planet have been through hell and back to get there. As long as you continue to stand up and keep going, you are far better off because of the so called, "face palms" you've experienced.
The most difficult part of 2016 for me personally was this summer. I was unmotivated, which is not typically a quality of mine. When August began I knew something had to change before the school year began and it was back to work. I had read several self-development books over the past year with amazing pointers. So, I found an accountability partner and began creating a routine. How this change has impacted my life in just a few short months has really taken me by surprise. I've been waiting to share with everyone these small, simple actions that have really been amazing for me. My hope is that doing so will inspire you and rock your world not just in 2017, but forever. Take them or leave them, the choice is yours.
As you read the strategies or actions, DO NOT underestimate the power of small habits. The small decisions we make are by far the most important. These seemingly insignificant tools have created life changing, confetti throwing, standing on the mountain top shouting at the top of my lungs kinda growth for me over just a few months. Maybe I really failed that many times throughout 2016 where learning was inevitable or maybe it's a whole new perspective on the importance of failure and being uncomfortable. After writing that sentence, I'm definitely convinced it's a little bit of both. Enjoy.
1. Take Responsibility
We have control over more than 90% of what happens whether it's our actions or reactions. We INVITE stress, "busy", and negativity into our lives and it's important to look at life that way. Some of you may be coming up with defense statements right now, feel free to keep going I did the same, but until you take responsibility for your own life it will be tough to achieve goals and ultimately serve others to your full potential. Meal planning has been one of those areas for me this year. I used to spend loads of hours searching through recipes, writing a list, checking it twice, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up. Cooking, which I love, had really become a big ole' chore. And NO ONE likes those. My mom encouraged me to try Wildtree, I invited it into my life, and now I spend 2-3 hours prepping a month's worth of meals and maybe 30 minutes per night cooking and cleaning. This means I spend less time planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, and cleaning up after meals plus it's much easier to stick to a budget. Something so simple can be tweaked to save you an abundance of time, money and reduce your stress significantly. It's great. What areas of your life feel like chaos? How can you be more proactive about those moments?
2. Be Active
So many of us run to the gym and hit it hard for the first couple weeks of the year trying to meet our New Year's resolution of living a healthier lifestyle. Don't set yourself up for failure, save yourself money and live a more active lifestyle. It's really that simple and you'll see results in every aspect of your life. If you're currently not active at all, find an accountability partner and start with a 15-20 minute walk or hike three times a week and TRACK your habits. I give you permission to NOT buy that expensive treadmill. Fresh air is great for you and what's even better...it's free.
3. Meditate
This is something I never in a million years thought I'd be doing. Yet, nearly every morning over the past five months I've been spending time meditating and/or praying. The benefits are AMAZING. If you've never "meditated" before, definitely start slow with 2-3 minutes, you'll be surprised at how long this might feel in the beginning. Set a timer, throw on your diffuser #essentialoillove, close your eyes and be still my friend. I like to use these two mantras, especially on the days when I struggle to be still.
Recently I've added some meditation music, but you can totally make this your own. If you're a parent, wake up a few minutes before the kids do and start the day off in peace. It takes practice, but you can do it! Sometimes I'll even end my workouts by laying on my yoga mat (aka corpse pose), setting my timer, turning on my meditation music and soaking in all the goodness released from the workout.
4. Journal
So I've had a journal since junior high and have went through waves of writing in it, but it never really stuck for me until this year. Making time to journal during my morning and sometimes evening routine has been unbelievably rewarding. You must try it. Everyone should. We can control how we start and end our days (most of the time). Find a journal that you're excited about with an awesome pen, wake up or go to bed a little earlier and start writing for 5-10 minutes. Not sure what to write about? Start by writing down all of the reasons you are grateful in that moment.
5. Do Away With Negativity
Garbage In = Garbage Out. Before starting this journey, I would have never said our life had negative vibes pouring in. However, this past summer I became extremely bogged down by negativity experienced in the education world, environment, politics, friends, conversations, etc. to the point where I felt there was nothing I could do to motivate change.
I've come to realize it's important to know there is struggle in the world and find ways to make it better, but it's also important to filter the amount of negativity we allow into our minds. It can do more harm than good in many cases and stop us from reaching our full potential. If you haven't heard of the Law of Attraction or Law of Vibration, then be sure to check them both out...I'm here to tell you they're a real thing. We attract what we want to attract. So think about it for a second...what are you allowing to control your life?
6. Know Your Purpose and Dismiss Your Insecurities
I'm still working on this one, but I know this year will be monumental based on what's already in store. I've noticed over the past year that so many of us are stopping ourselves from living out our purpose. We are all SO talented in different ways and have these gifts that are our own and yet...we hide them because of fear. What. Is. That.?!?!? It's all a mindset people. Now I'm not guaranteeing success in all areas, I mean I love singing, but I was not blessed to be the next Beyonce. That being said, if I want to do karaoke on a Friday night or try out for a play because it will make my heart sing...then so be it, I should definitely do it without fear of what others think. Tap into your strengths and unique abilities, stop allowing your own insecurities to take over and hold you back from your true potential.
7. Think. BIGGER.
What are your goals? Do you have dreams? Write them down. Make them happen. There's no doubt it will absolutely be difficult, but we live in a world were anything is possible, especially with the amount of reach we can have using technology. It's our duty to improve and keep reaching to be the best we possibly can be. When we're achieving success, it inspires others to do the same.
8. Learn More
Find a good book to either read or listen to during your commute each day. If you're not doing this, believe me you're missing out. My rule starting out in August was that anytime I was in the car during my mornings I would be listening to an audiobook. I LOVE music, so this was something I thought would be challenging. Today, I spend the majority of my hours in the car listening to audiobooks. This may seem totally cray cray to you, but through reading and listening to audiobooks since graduating with my MASTER'S degree...I feel I've taken away more content than the majority of my classes that I paid well beyond $20 to take. That's not to say I regret taking those college courses, but rather to make a statement about how powerful learning can be outside of "higher education".
I hope and pray that reading this will breathe life into you and spur motivation and excitement. Maybe it will even turn your thinking from negative to positive when thinking back to 2016...
a girl can dream right?
a girl can dream right?
My final thoughts from 2016?
>>When it comes to reaching big goals, change is inevitable.
>>Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is necessary in order for you best and truest self to shine.
>>Failure (not referring to drugs, alcohol, etc.) is necessary.
>>When it comes to reaching big goals, change is inevitable.
>>Becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable is necessary in order for you best and truest self to shine.
>>Failure (not referring to drugs, alcohol, etc.) is necessary.
Cheers Everyone! May 2017 be your BEST YEAR YET.
***Be sure to share anything you've gained from this post in the comments below!***
***Be sure to share anything you've gained from this post in the comments below!***
Thankfully,
Michelle
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