“I finally see the dawn arriving
I see beyond the road I’m driving
Far away and left behind.”
~ “Don’t Look Back” by Boston
I love this song by Boston. It makes me feel like a fresh start, like no matter what happened, I can take my life into a new and better direction.
We all want an amazing 2016 but like the song suggests, going forward requires looking back and it all starts with a proper goodbye to 2015.
We all get excited when we start something new.
And a new year just gives us this feeling of:
HOPE
POSSIBILITY
FRESH START
GETTING IT RIGHT THIS TIME
When it comes to our health we often start the year with promises to eat better and be active. And many times what happens is that we start with a bang and a lot of good intention and then something just fizzles.
One of the things that many of us fail to do is to take a good honest look at the previous year and take some steps to heal, learn, grow and allow something wonderful to come out of that process. It is incredibly powerful and will put more real intention and resolve into your 2016’s dreams and goals.
Find some quite time.
Take a pen and paper.
Go over the following questions and write down your answers.
Those questions are POWERFUL and will MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!!!
Guaranteed!
WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED IN 2015???
We often keep the majority of our focus on
What we want and don’t have
And we disregard what we actually accomplish.
To help you create a more positive and accomplished 2016
We need to change focus
And celebrate every achievement.
Please fill a page with the healthy choices you made in the past year
Big and small
Even if you did not do them perfectly or consistently
The fact that you did them some of the time counts!
The fact that you started and kept trying counts!
WHAT ARE YOU PROUD OF ABOUT 2015???
I tell my son many times a day
I am so proud of you!
So be a proud mama to yourself
Start a page with “I am so proud of me for ___”
And write down whatever comes up
LIST 5 THINGS THAT HAVE BECOME A HEALTHY ROUTINE FOR YOU
Perhaps you are drinking water instead of soda
Or started eating more vegetables
Or walk to work instead of taking the car
5 things, big or small that are now part of what you do
WHAT ARE YOU GRATEFUL FOR???
We often take it for granted that we have hands that work
Legs that walk
Eyes that see
Our bodies are a miracle
And our lives are filled with goodness
That’s another page filler
Think of the past year and list all the things that you are grateful for
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED???
Every experience is a great teacher
No matter how hard it is
Sometimes, if we don’t learn and change
Life will give us the same lesson
Over and over.
So reflect and think and write
What did 2015 teach you?
WHAT WAS NOT WORKING FOR YOU?
HOW CAN YOU MAKE IT WORK BETTER IN 2016?
Maybe you need to change a behavior like eating late at night.
Or start the day in a more positive frame of mind.
Maybe you ignored your body’s signals and need to start paying attention.
Or you intended to start yoga but never made it to a single class.
Think about WHY it did not work.
Sometimes it means that you need to choose SMALLER steps and work your way up gradually.
Sometimes it means that you need to start in a different area of your life.
Journal, reflect and let your mind come up with the answers.
WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO LET GO OF?
This is a big one
We get very attached to old habits
We get caught in addictive behavior
And we are often afraid of change
Even when we long for it
With all our hearts
Honestly, what are you really willing to let go of?
What things, behaviors, people, situations no longer serve you
Or maybe even harm you?
Are you willing to let go of them?
We might experience a sense of loss when we let go
But we are actually making room for a big wonderful gain
Do it slowly.
You don’t have to spend a lot of time on each and every question, just the ones that speak to you.
Give yourself a couple of hours to do it.
Be gentle with yourself.
Be kind to yourself.
Be a friend to yourself.
When you are done bless 2015 and release it.
Write some goodbye words from your heart.
This is a necessary process to help you create an AMAZING 2016!!!
I would love to hear about your process in the comments.
xoxo
~Rachel
Please share with someone you love.
