Dec 31, 2015 To say this year went by in a flash would be an understatement, I mean I remember what I was doing this time last year at this very moment. As we get ready to say goodbye to 2015 and welcome 2016, I’m sure as we do year in and year out, some of us plan to make New Year Resolutions. I’m not going to discourage you from taking on New Year resolutions but the truth is, we all have areas in our lives that need improvement so instead of giving yourself the added pressure of “I’m going to stop doing this thing this year” or “I’m going to start doing that thing this year” why not explore the idea of becoming a better and stronger person in general?
Let me break it down, making a New Year resolution means you pick one area of your life or one habit (most likely negative) that you want to kick out the pan. But making such promises or resolutions can put added pressure on oneself, furthermore if you were to break that resolution, let’s face it most people would say “I’ve broken the resolution, I might as well quit now” and that’s a very normal way to react. But if we turn it on its head, choosing to become a “better me” has no expiration date, it’s an ongoing process. Prodding further, it covers every area of your life. If you fall off the wagon, you can get back on it.
So, how do I become a “better me?” I hear you ask, well here are a few pointers from the top of my head.
The first one is obvious, eat healthier. When we fuel our bodies with good food filled with nutrients, it is the beginning of self- love. This is the body you’re going to be lugging around for the rest of your life, so you may as well love it and be good to it, right? Eating healthier not only makes you feel great, it reduces the chances of developing numerous diseases.
Simplify your life. Every so often you need to re-evaluate your situation. Don’t forget you’re constantly evolving and changing. There are some people who you may not need in your life anymore and are currently holding you back; someone who was there for a season and that season has gone. Cut them off. Let me illustrate further…just like a baby’s umbilical cord is cut at birth for him or her to be free from their mother, so you must metaphorically do the same. I once heard this striking phrase “Evaluate the people in your life, then promote, demote or terminate. You are the CEO of your life!”
Spend more time with loved ones. It’s easy to get tied up with the hustle and bustle of life that we tend to get side tracked and forget to spend time with our loved ones. Make it a practice to visit family and friends at least once a month (especially older relatives, remember nobody lives forever and you don’t want to regret anything).
Show gratitude. A report once revealed that those who show gratitude regularly have higher levels of positive emotions including life satisfaction, vitality and optimism. Here’s a scientific fact for you: Materialistic people have all the “tangible” things but they’re low in well-being…the reason? They lack gratitude.
There are many more but I’ll end with this one…leave your comfort zone and challenge yourself! No one ever became great without breaking down the invisible walls they formed around themselves. Try new things, fail a few times. Take up a new hobby or travel the world. Whatever it is, just do something.
So like I said, forget the New Year resolutions and begin creating a “better me”. Not only will you feel the difference; people around you will be impacted positively!