New Years Guide

New Years is just around the corner! I think we all get to this time of the year and cannot wait to get our life back on track. After a busy month of events and a week without routine - we really start to crave the structure we initially broke away from.

I think it's totally normal to need a break before diving back in. I notice that commonly people feel a lot of guilt over this period. Life is meant to be enjoyed! Especially when we all are working so hard.

I just wanted to touch base and share some ideas when starting to plan for the New Year. Here are my three considerations on ensuring 2019 is a year in which we thrive!

1. Gratitude - I feel like we can totally skip this step and it is absolutely crucial to setting up our New Year. What, from 2018 are you grateful for? Which people, what achievements, goals, and experiences have brought you the most growth this year? It is so important to understand how this year propelled us forward. The growth might not be from a positive experience either! Likely a struggle is what was your greatest achievement. Mine personally, was having a year largely related to my solitude. I've always been a social butterfly, dating etc. But this year I tried my hardest to learn how to be with just me! It was tough at times, lonely, but completely essential to what is next in my life.

Taking time to write down these thoughts is the first step to understanding how to make your New Year more potent. Make a list - on one side a (+) and on the other a (-). This could be experiences, people, beliefs etc. Try to be as honest as you can and really draw out what brought out positives and what were not setting you up well in 2018. At the end of the day, I know it seems harsh, but we need to know what isn't serving us so we can move forward. Take some time with this!

2. Service - what if this year was the first year that you decided you would be more selfless? We often feel pain and suffering when we don't feel purposeful. Truly, we are meant to help one another. What if the first intention you set this year was to be of service to others or the planet? Maybe that means committing to a Meatless Monday, not using plastic bags or reusable coffee cups, volunteering once a week or even volunteering at a event once a month. It doesntt need to be huge - but changing our energy use to be productive to others in need over something like money is a humbling experience.

3. Compassion - we all have hopes and dreams - it is what helps us strive to be better. The problem is when these hopes don't manifest and we start to feel guilt and shame. Its these feelings that harm us more then anything else. Dream big - please don't stop doing that. But love yourself, truly. Try you best and do it because you feel lucky enough to be able to. Detach from expectations. Lets all live with a little more compassion in 2019 - to other people and to ourselves!