Happy New Year! Despite the passage of time each day, many of us look to January 1st as the "start" of the year, an opportunity for a new beginning, and a chance to make positive changes. We all know that this is possible at literally any time, but the first of the calendar year provides an excellent time stamp for progress.
This month, I want to highlight 31 ways to baby step your way into a more mindful and healthful life. Some of the tips will be advice already stated or implied in previous posts, while some will be brand new. This post provides the first and an explanation. The idea is to start at the beginning and accumulate as many mindful and healthful habits as you'd like to sustain by the conclusion of the month. It's similar to that icebreaker where you're in a circle of people and you need to repeat all of the members' names in order... it's a challenge, but you'll feel great at making progress and it'll help you see how far you've come from the 1st to the 31st!
this picture was taken in our home after I presented at a conference in November 2014
Baby Step # 1
Start with positive affirmations and self-love
New Year's Resolutions are nothing new, but setting a long-term goal to love yourself is much more important and practical than an extreme diet and exercise program. Take time today to reflect on the life you want for yourself--this includes the relationship you'd like to have with the most important person in your life: you. As such, today's (and this month's) task should include a positive self-image and healthy self-esteem. If this isn't something you maintain already, that is your task.
The Dalai Lama has said, "Once you develop confidence in your own ability, you’ll be able to make a real contribution to creating a better world. Self-confidence is very important. Not in the sense of blind pride, but as a realistic awareness of what you can do. As human beings we can transform ourselves by our good qualities and reducing our faults. Our intelligence enables us to judge what is good from what is harmful."
Check out this self-love post about how to remind yourself just how great you are and the good things you offer our world and read (or reread) this congratulate yourself post for a reminder to be your own biggest fan!
Positive affirmations, which are statements of positivity with which to remind yourself of characteristics and aspirations, also do an incredible job to help you feel good about yourself and your progress towards achieving your goals.
Here's an example: "I choose to be on my side. All of my thoughts are pointed toward my positive intentions."
Find this and others at Creative Affirmations. Check out my post entitled "Making Mindfulness Affirmations" for examples and some to incorporate into your life or the Making Mindfulness Facebook page for affirmations all week long!
Also, if you don't already, consider checking out and following these or similar Facebook pages for daily doses of positivity: Bluma Affirmations (one I follow), Positive Chick (another I follow), Affirmations for Mothers, or Positive Affirmations.
The more you can surround (maybe even bombard?) yourself with positivity, the less likely you will be to fall out of a positive mindset--and, just a reminder, you can't have a positive life with a negative mind, right?! Something as simple as adjusting your social media settings to reduce "news" and updates from negative sources and people can really help, too!
What is a positive affirmation that can start improving your life today?Labels: Go Ahead--Try It!, Life, Mind & Body, Mindful Baby Steps, Positivity
