Last year I made the decision NOT to make any specific New Year's Resolutions but instead gave myself four 'values' to do my best to live by - simplicity, heart, organisation and positivity. You can read more about it here.
I have to say - with the exception of organisation which, I fear, will be an eternal bugbear of mine! - I think I managed to apply these values to my day to day living fairly successfully, resulting in a 2013 that was, perhaps, a whole lot happier than it could have been! These values will continue to be my cornerstones for 2014 and beyond... (with organisation needing a bit of extra work. I WILL get organised!!)
I have already pledged to meal plan my way through 2014, although this is as much due to necessity as anything, which should be a good spur to keep on track!
I have also decided to set up a 'GOOD THINGS JAR'.
This is an idea I saw posted around the internet last year but never got around to doing. This year I have a jar all sorted along with a little stack of paper squares.
The idea is that whenever something lovely happens - whether a fun day out, a gesture from a friend (or a stranger), an achievement or just a moment worth remembering - we write it down on a piece of paper and pop it into the jar. Then, at the end of the year we can look back at all the good things that have filled our year.
I always find it's the bad stuff we remember the most, that makes the biggest impression on our recollection of the year just gone. I like the idea of a jar full of Good Things as an antidote to that. Even if we do have to deal with another year full of bad stuff it will give us something positive to reminisce about in 365 days time!
Will you be using a 'Good Things Jar' or some other way to record the nice things that happen throughout 2014?
Perhaps you filled a 'Good Things Jar' in 2013. How does it feel to look back on all the awesome things that filled your year?
I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I think my brain just rebels at the thought of any kind of restriction being placed upon it - "thou shalt not eat chocolate hobnobs" is doomed to fail!
So instead of giving myself a list of things I must or must not do in 2013 I have a list of words to inspire! (and a neat little acronym to boot!)
Simplicity
One of my favourite magazines (and blogs) is The Simple Things. I love their ethos and their style. I love the emphasis on enjoying the simple things of life - good, honest home cooked food; pottering in the garden (or at the window box); learning a new skill or craft; hanging out with family and friends and taking the time to look around and appreciate what you have rather than worrying about what you haven't.
The
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle states that most systems work
better if they are kept simple rather than made complex. Generally it
refers to computer programs but I think the same could be said for life .
. .
"unnecessary complexity should be avoided"
Life is complex enough without throwing all sorts of extra baggage into the mix.
If it is not essential, let it go (applies to belongings, activities and insurance policies!)
Heart
This
is the biggie! How often have you done something that deep in your
heart you know you didn't want to do? I'm not talking about your tax
return (no-one actually WANTS to do that) How often do you say 'Yes' to because your head says it's a good idea even though your heart is crying out NO!!? How often do you purchase an item without really
thinking about it where it comes from or what effect it may have on the
environment or yourself? What do you know about the people who produced the item? Or
the company behind it? Or if you DO have this information and it's not as ethical as you'd like, do you chose to ignore it because searching for an alternative is too much hassle?
This year I aim to listen to my heart more, let my conscience speak out and act accordingly.
Organisation
I have been saying it for years, but I really need to place more importance on being organised. It makes everything run so much more smoothly! I have got myself a nice page per day diary and this year I plan to *actually* use it! (honest, guv)
Positivity
It's so easy to get bogged down by bad stuff but there is always a positive in there somewhere, if you look hard enough . . . No money? Bargain hunting is a challenge to relish! No time? Isn't it good that you are busy?
Or as Aretha (and just about every other singer of note at some point in their career) sings...
One of the most inspirational people I have met online is the amazing ShellyBobbins.
When her boy, Noah was born at the beginning of the year with numerous
complications due to Spina Bifida, doctors were not hopeful that he
would survive. Shelly kept us all up to date with tweets and facebook
posts as little Noah defied all expectations and went from strength to
strength, recently celebrating his first Christmas at home with his
lovely family around him. Shelly's positive attitude has not only kept
her family going through this difficult time but also done a tremendous
amount to raise awareness of Spina Bifida too! And every time she posts a
picture of her gorgeous little boy smiling my heart just melts...
Simplicity. Heart. Organisation. Positivity. Those four words shall be my guidance for 2013 - I shall be looking always for the positive, attempt to keep organised, celebrate simplicity and act mindfully, allowing my decisions to be heart-led.
I my even try, for the sake of my health, to eat fewer chocolate hobnobs . . .
How about you? Do you have any New Year's Resolutions? Do you have a keyword or a affirmation to take with you through 2013? Or do you simply not feel the need to start a new calender year with any fresh intentions?
OK I admit it, I have cheated a little this week - I went and read Liska's post before writing this. And I am glad I did as Liska has summed up perfectly what has been on my mind since the beginning of the year...
Like many, many other people I spend a lot of time thinking and talking (whinging) about how crap everything is - no money, bad health, a constant stream of bad luck and, more to the point for us #Mumentum ladies - no weight loss. With all this focus on the negatives is it any wonder there is no room in our lives for positives?
My previous job (before being a mummy kind of took over!) was managing an alternative therapies and gift shop. Whilst there I learnt a lot about so-called New Age therapies. Much of it has no scientific basis whatsoever and many people find it easier to put it down as nonsense or even go as far as to claim practitioners are little more than con artists out to rip-off gullible, vulnerable people with a load of mumbo-jumbo, and I have no doubt that this was the case on many occasions, BUT I did also see many people who were helped in a positive way by, basically, changing their thinking and allowing their inner selves to shine through and attract more positivity into their lives. By concentrating on the positive they were allowing the positive to make itself known. And while it may be true that we cannot 100% control what comes into our lives, how we DEAL with it is entirely up to us!
Focus
Liska has suggested we refocus on the positive - what we wish to be -
our Inner Truth - rather than dwelling on, and therefor attracting, the
negative - or what we do not wish to be. there was a link on her post
to a Kundalini Yoga lesson that has much relevance and that I read with
great interest. Yoga has been a part of my life since my early 20's and the deep breathing and meditative practise carried through to my Shaolin Kung Fu training, but it has all fallen by the wayside since the Little Man came into my life. This lesson has reminded me of the power of deep breathing..
So this week I will be concentrating on rediscovering the fire in my belly
With all this in mind Liska has also proposed a new name for our Monday linky...
The beautiful thing about this is that it opens the linky up to everyone! So if you want to embrace the positive and embark upon a journey to find your Inner Truth, why not join in? If you want to add your post, or read others, the linky is here
I have also decided to set up a 'GOOD THINGS JAR'.
