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A New Year, A New You! – Part 1
As one year ends and another begins, we are all presented with an opportunity to move into new and uncharted territory. Some people spend time reflecting on what has taken place over the past year, while others think about what might transpire in the upcoming one. Regardless of which perspective is chosen, you will have an opportunity to refine and improve who you are and what you want to do with your life.
Having the right tools and methodologies at your disposal is essential when trying to change or improve your life. Over the past twelve months we have produced a significant number of blogs that have touched upon a variety of topics having to do with self-development and self-improvement. Our goal is to provide you with information that is easy to understand and which can be applied to improve your life. There is, of course, a lot of variability when it comes to how certain tools and methods can be used in each person’s life. In general, however, most of the topics are relevant—one way or another—to the majority of the population.
One of the fundamental goals that should be given high priority by anyone aiming to improve himself is to fully understand the power of being present. Being present can end so much suffering and internal strife, as it has the power to shift the mind away from ruminating about the past or worrying about the future. Many times anxiety and stress can be eliminated by being present, as these emotions often have very little to do with what is taking place in the moment. It is important to note that when your thoughts begin to race and trigger all kinds of emotions, you have become subservient and are under their control. You can free yourself from the shackles of thinking about the past and worrying about the future by doing one simple thing. Ask yourself, “Does this thought serve me?” If the answer is no, you must let that thought go. By releasing it you are making an active decision to not let that thought control you. More importantly, you are striving to be present. In a previous blog post titled “The Power Of Being Present,” we discussed what the concept means and provided some tools to help you achieve it. If there’s one thing you choose to do to improve your life in the new year, being present should be it.
When you travel down the path of self-improvement, it’s helpful to have mental, physical or spiritual exercises or practices that can help calm your mind and settle your spirit. Having a regular, or semi-regular, meditation practice is something easy that everyone can do. Meditation is also subject to a lot of variability; it is a tool that can be adapted to each person in a unique way. Some people find it helpful to get guidelines, directions or suggestions on how to meditate, but in the end you must choose a style/type of meditation that works best for you. There are many different types of meditations. One of the more popular versions is guided meditation. This is where you listen to a person’s voice guide you through the meditative process. There are over 900,000 different guided meditation videos on YouTube. With a little searching, you can find one that feels right and works well. We spent some time writing about meditation and its many benefits and also provided some suggestions on how you can start your practice. If you get a moment please read that article titled “The Many Benefits Of Meditation.”
Finding your life purpose is something each and every person needs to do, as it is a vital aspect of living a life filled with meaning, direction and value. Many people lead lives in an almost robotic way, going through the motions but not living fully and with purpose. Now that the new year is upon us, it would be a great time to sit and think about what your life purpose is. This isn’t an easy question, nor should it be. Discovering your life purpose can take some time and serious contemplation, so we urge you to be patient but persistent. In a previous blog post titled “What Is Your Life Purpose?” we presented this question to our readers and patients with the intention of raising awareness of its importance.
In part two of this series we will continue our discussion on what you can do to make the upcoming year your very best ever!
