A MINDFUL NEW YEAR
Hello Friends, Happy New Year! Can we still say that a month into it– of course, I proclaim! I’m so happy you’re here. If you’ve landed with me before, you know I’m a pay it forward gal. I thrive in sharing thoughtful ideas about how to live our lives feeling more compassionately connected to ourselves and the world around us. As I continue to write a mindful living column for our local magazine, “The Sonoma Social Publication” I’m inclined to share the article’s here, in hopes to spread the love to a broader community seeking mindfulness.
Stepping into a brand new year has the potential to offer endless opportunities of self-discovery and growth. Reflecting on the past year is often a catalyst for us making new “promises” to ourselves that we will create changes within that lead to satisfying results. So frequently when we don’t achieve them, we’re left feeling unfulfilled or like we failed. What if we asked ourselves a bigger question; what is our life calling for?
I kinda wonder what it would feel like to rename New Year’s Resolutions to New Year’s Evolutions. By doing this we could experience an insightful shift in perspective, emphasizing our willingness to grow rather than fixating on outcomes. With a subtle change in language we’re invited to focus on mindfulness and the joy of an intentional process rather than the pressure of checking off goals. As we gently find our rhythm of daily life in this new year, let us explore a nurturing approach to our New Year’s Evolutions that celebrate a journey of evolving.
Rooting our journey in mindfulness will be the anchor that grounds us in the present moment and becomes a guiding light for navigating the imbalances of life. For those of us accustomed to the thrill of achieving goals and driven by tangible results, this may feel like uncharted territory, I'm with you. Yet, as we explore this new landscape, can we draw inspiration from the practices where we feel connected and supported? I know for myself, clarity blossoms when I’m meditating, practicing yoga, journaling gratitude, in nature, moving my body daily and eating nutritious foods. These are all supportive in my quest to be more present in daily life and nurturing my overall well-being. While these things often aren’t happening consistently all at once, I’m very proud that over time the consistency of these habits are forming and impactful to how I want my life to feel. Most importantly for me, it’s about letting go of the rigidity of it all. The acceptance and contentment that life is ever-evolving even when not all those boxes are being checked. The mindful work we do for ourselves begins to arrive in everything we do, especially in the unsuspecting places where we need them most. We have an opportunity to celebrate every purposeful step forward, and commit to savoring the delight in becoming.
This mindful approach encourages us to find happiness in the nuances of the present moment and appreciate the power of our daily choices. We talk a lot about this in our household lately and how important it is to see the beauty in how we are growing. As parents, these can be valuable lessons we may find ourselves re-learning, if we are dedicated to teaching this to our children. We can stay wonderfully curious about ourselves by leaning into our intentions and allowing space for the unpredictable. Drawing inspiration from thoughtful leaders and mindful practices is supportive but being truthful with yourself and your willingness to explore will be your inner compass that guides you best.
“New Year = A New Life! Decide today who you will become, what you will give how you will live”
For the past few decades I’ve been a perpetual goal setter, and a lot of the time it has worked very efficiently for me. The year-end work I do to prepare for the up-coming year has varied in pathways, but consistently, “goals” have been the focal point. Having been in a supportive womens’ goals group and working with coaches, I’ve noticed a big shift over the years as I’ve gravitated more into mindful living. Whether I achieved the goal or not, nothing has been more sustainable or supportive to my life vision than my curiosity to always be growing and learning how to align my mindset with that vision. Similar to my yoga practice and teachings, the mastery of a posture only happens over time, with patience and practice. Our breath, a universal companion, becomes a tool to inhale the beauty of each fleeting moment and exhale the pressures of perfection. So much of what I personally love about yoga and how I go about orchestrating a class, is the encouragement of acquiring the ability to sit with ourselves, in all of it, while also knowing there’s a journey being uniquely designed for everyone of us if we have faith in it, and trust the process.
Here’s to a year of celebrating the mindfulness that can transform resolutions into a graceful path of unfolding. I’ve loved writing about this, it felt more challenging than I hoped. It also reaffirmed my own desire to be less worried about results and cherish all the opportunities that we have to lean into the journey of evolving, whether it’s a new year or a new day! I’m wishing you all a 2024 full of love, joy and good health.
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