A New Year

 Happy New Year! being the first day of the new year I spent some time this morning planning some things I would like to see come to fruition this year. I would not call them resolutions as that just sounds like I am setting myself up for failure. 

Instead they are habits I want to introduce into my life and see where they take me. I see this as a more positive approach than the traditional idea of giving something up  - such as unhealthy eating, not exercising, smoking etc. This idea of giving something up suggests to your subconscious that you are losing something from your life, getting rid of a part of you or your identity and even if that thing is not good for you then it still feels like a loss and we are geared to not cope with loss. We will do anything to hold onto something that our brain tells us is part of us and after the grieving for that loss inevitably kicks in we realise we can quickly solve that grief in an instant by resuming what ever thing it was we gave up. There it is again! Back just like that. Comfortable and familiar like a favourite warm jumper, easy to slip on and tell ourselves that its ok to continue to find comfort in it. Before you know it your resolutions have fizzled and your sense of failure reinforces to you why you shouldn't bother attempting to make these every new year...

So my approach this year is to frame it in a positive manner. I don't have any vices like smoking to stop doing but I am guilty of not looking after my mental wellbeing and allowing it to wander to places I shouldn't let it go. I am guilty of forgetting to care for myself at times as I put all my energies into caring for my husband and my family. I ignore my need to get regular exercise and I am guilty of eating too much chocolate at times. I often neglect to feed myself the nourishing food I tell my kids to eat and I procrastinate to often on the things that really matter by telling myself I am so busy with all the things I am required to do... Does this sound familiar to anyone?

This morning I started with a yoga session and this view of my living room ceiling and the light shade that I could see as I lay on my mat to do the savasana at the end felt very zen-like. Circular, simple and unfettered. It inspired me to stick with this aspect of self-care that I can do everyday for free in the comfort of my own home. No money spent and so much gained as I begin my journey today for the beginning of the rest of my life.