Happy New Year, Everyone!!!
First off, I want to thank you for being a part of my journey of healthy living this past year. Whether it’s reading my blog posts, following and liking my Instagram and Facebook accounts and engaging with me online. A strong support system is so important for living a full life and you guys have no idea how much your support means to me.
2019 is going to be a good one. I feel it.
At the end of every year I usually sit down and come up with a list of goals I want to achieve that following year. I’m a very goal oriented person and having items to check off my list has always worked for me. It’s also very satisfying to look back and see all that I’ve accomplished. For example, last year I put down that I wanted to take a French cooking class in Paris and in November, that pipe dream came true! There is no better feeling!
This year however, I’ve chosen to do something different.
Instead of listing a bunch of goals or resolutions for 2019, I made a promise to myself to focus on three important things.
1. Be mindful of what I consume (for my body and my mind).
This means no more impulsive decisions to consume unhealthy foods that have a negative affect on my mind and body. It’s so easy to say right? But man, eating healthy on a consistent basis is soooooo hard! Especially if you’re a foodie like me and find joy in sharing meals with friends and family. But balance is key with everything in life and as much as I love savory rich foods, I need to remember how food affects my overall health and well-being. So thats where the mindfulness comes in.
This also applies to everything my mind consumes and this is an important one…this also includes the people you converse with on a regular basis. I know it sounds harsh but if the people you surround yourself daily are not making you rise up to the level of greatness you need to be at, its time to rethink a few things.
You know that saying…“You are the sum of the 5 people you surround yourself with.” This quote is so powerful to me. I never want to be the smartest, best and most accomplished person in the room. I love learning from others and being around people (especially other women) who inspire me to be the best version of myself.
Additionally, I need to be more aware of the information that I feed my brain. Enough with constantly comparing my life to strangers on Instagram and instead listen to an inspirational Podcast or read a motivational book where I actually learn something. I made a commitment to read one book a month and put down my phone more.
Social Media breaks are good for the soul! I highly recommend doing it anytime you start feeling anxious or find yourself getting caught up in the comparison game.
2. Protect my energy at all times.
It took me my whole life to realize that I am highly sensitive to negative energy from others. Like super super sensitive to it. Conversely, when I’m around positive energy, it’s intoxicating and I feed off of it! But being in an environment where I don’t feel comfortable or feel uneasy….I can no longer tolerate. Being around negative energy can affect my entire day, week, month…you get the idea. I have pretty strong instincts and my gut usually tells me when something isn’t right and I need to do a better job at listening to my instincts the first time. The problem is, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. I always want to try and see the good in people but unfortunately, I don’t always find it. When something feels off, there’s reason for it. Protecting my energy means that I will put myself first, say “no” more and simply not be around people who bring me down.
My environment and my energy is more important than how I make others feel. I will no longer put other people’s needs and wants at the expense of my mental health.
3. Do more of what makes me happy.
Sounds straight forward right? But we all forget to do this from time to time. Instead we get stuck in the day to day routine and forget about what truly makes us tick. Our responsibilities of work, kids, house chores, etc, make us lose sight of the things that make us complete and whole.
This past year, I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to rediscover exactly what gets me excited. I learned that its not material things (those only bring short term happiness that typically fade in a few days) but experiences are what fills my soul. Whether its taking a drive to a new place I’ve always wanted to go to or getting on a plane halfway across the world.
Travel and exploration fills my soul with so much joy and happiness.
On that same token, there is nothing like the comfort of being home. Cooking meals and watching a good movie with my family is my favorite thing to do.
The solitude of being home helps me recharge after a day of giving my energy to other people.
Being at home cooking and eating a comforting meal, watching a Netflix movie or reading a good book is just as important to me as travel.
It’s important to know the balance between the two and recognize that each has its importance.
Whatever your goals, resolutions and intentions are for this year, I wish all of you nothing but peace, joy and happiness. No matter what it is you are struggling with (because we are all struggling with something), my wish for you is that no matter what you’re going through, you know that YOU ARE ENOUGH.
Everything you are doing and all that you are is enough.
HAPPY NEW YEAR! CHEERS TO 2019!
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