It’s A New Year And You Hold All The Power!

A new year is upon us, and with that comes the opportunity for new experiences and adventures – new goals and aspirations! Each year, on New Year’s Eve many of us anxiously await the moment when the ball drops. As we wait in anticipation during the infamous ten second countdown, we tend to experience a sense of hope and excitement for what the new year has the potential to bring. At its very foundation, hope is what drives us forward. We may hope for a better year. We may hope for a career change or promotion. We may hope that this will finally be the year we create a healthier lifestyle, or make smarter, better decisions. We may hope that this is the year our family grows or we may hope to finally overcome the adversity we’ve been facing. 

Each year, many of us make resolutions surrounding our health, our love life, our careers and education. We think of our family, our friends, we think of our struggles and reflect on how the past year pushed us harder than we ever thought possible. Sometimes we may enter a new year feeling broken, wanting more from life but not knowing where or how to get it. 

It’s important to recognize that on varying levels we all struggle with stress, fear, anxiety and feelings of hurt. The unfortunate result can leave us feeling alone, not worthy, defeated, and afraid to go after what sets our soul on fire. Let’s face it – if it were easy to let go of all those feelings and dive right into our passions, 100% living the life we’ve always dreamed – guaranteed we’d ALL be doing it! Our reality as humans is that life is not that easy, it is not that simple. We are all complicated beings and our circumstances and reality shift from day to day. That is why it is so important for us to understand that our present circumstances are fluid, they change, and the best part is you hold all the power.

Even as I sat down to write this post, I could begin to feel my level of anxiety increase, thoughts of self doubt began to creep into the forefront of my mind and it was at that moment I realized I had to take charge and become mindful. 

That is the focus of this week’s message: be mindful of your thoughts. 

Not sure how to start? Here is some advice to help you begin …

Become aware of your thoughts. By becoming aware of your current headspace you are acknowledging its presence which will allow you to process your thoughts in a more meaningful way. As important as it is to become aware and acknowledge your negative thoughts – don’t live in that space – come to a place of acceptance with your current mindset and then, make a conscious effort to change your negative headspace and fill it with thoughts of positivity and empowerment. 

I will admit, this process is way easier said than done. However, in order to find the courage to begin to build yourself up and work toward your dreams and aspirations you need to get your thoughts under control. At the beginning this will take time, and absolutely there will be days where you falter – news flash, we’re all human! As you practice changing your mindset it will become easier overtime – think of it as you are working on creating a mindful habit for yourself. 

One thing life has taught me, is that I may not be able to control my outside circumstances but I hold all the power when it comes to my thoughts and my reactions to those circumstances. 

Here’s an example …

Since I can remember I have envisioned myself to be adventurous, outgoing, and someone who doesn’t let fear stand in her way. Yet, as I made my way into adulthood, I experienced circumstances that challenged my very being. My thoughts of myself and what I could and couldn’t do became altered. At times I would withdraw and not take advantage of opportunities that would challenge me. I began to let fear keep me from pursuing things I had always dreamed I would. That led me to feelings and thoughts of guilt, especially as a teacher and a mother of two, after all, I am supposed to be the person who practices what they preach! So why was I letting my own thoughts get in the way of living this life I had always envisioned for myself? Why did I make choices that went against basic advice that I would offer to my closest friends? After much internal turmoil, I finally decided enough was enough. I became mindful and more aware. I came to the realization that my thoughts were beginning to drive my decisions, and my decisions were leading me on a path that did not resonate with my soul. So I made a conscious effort to allow myself to experience those feelings, process them, but not live in them. I made the conscious effort to push myself through those thoughts and pursue avenues and opportunities that have pushed me out of my comfort zone and are now leading me on a path that I want to be on.  

This process of mental growth can be exhausting, afterall, you’re combating your own negative thoughts and everyday does not equal success; but remember you hold all the power. As some of you may take a moment to reflect, I will leave you with this … time is one of our most precious assets, and yet we will never know how much of it we’ve been given. So use it wisely. 

Cheers!