New Year, New Beginnings

New Year, New Beginnings

It’s still the holiday season with the hustle and bustle as people scurry around for work events, personal engagements and the typical holiday “to-do” list. Soon, however, the holiday season will come to its end as we say good-bye to 2016 and welcome in 2017.On New Year’s Day, we wake to all of the possibilities of a new year. One of our first objectives is likely to seek a rebalancing of our physical body from the holiday overexersions.  So on January 1, we will state our resolution to loss 10 pounds or quit smoking or get more sleep or exercise. And as we all know, our resolution is usually forgotten by February.  That’s what happens on a typical change from one year to the next.

But did you notice?  There is something much more subtle happening with this New Year’s celebration. This New Year’s Day is different.  2017 is a year of new ideas, new beginnings, new leaders and new paradigms.  Each of us is being called to grab hold of the future and do our part to influence and support positive changes.

This is BIG stuff.

Sun peaking out from behind Earth - new year, new beginnings

Take a moment to think about the implications.  Seriously.  Really take a moment to think about the year ahead.  More importantly, think about YOUR engagement going forward.It all begins with us.  Hope.  Contentment.  Happiness.  Unity.  It is all possible with each of us taking a moment every day in 2017 to do our part.  As a society, we can no longer feel it is at the discreation of someone else to fix the “wrongs.”  It calls on each of us to take responsibility for our own actions, to take positive steps forward (including our own internal personal journey) and to make BIG changes through our own “small” actions.  It’s the ripple effect.  One small ripple grows larger and larger, having a profound impact for all.

So before the New Year begins, take a moment now to decide how you wish 2017 to unfold.  What do you want to see in the world?  What do you want to see for the next generation – your kids?  Your grandkids?  Remember it does not have to be grandiose.  Rather, start small.  Here are just a few examples to get you started but the list is endless.
  • Open a door for someone;
  • Pay for the person’s coffee who is standing behind you in line;
  • Volunteer for your favorite charity, school, hospice, etc;
  • Smile at a stranger;
  • Let someone else “in” while driving;
  • Forgive a past transgression;
  • Seek out help or support if depressed, anxious or sad;
  • Call someone you haven’t spoken to for awhile and say “hello”;
  • Take your neighbor’s mail to them or put their garbage can near their house:
  • Take a few deep breaths prior to entering into a disagreement;
  • Listen, rather than talking, to another’s perspective;
  • Step in with resilence and compassion if someone is being bullied or harrassed;
  • Let go of your perfectionism, fear, judgements and other feelings that do not serve you;
  • Begin the hard work of your own personal journey through joining a spiritual community, practicing meditation or yoga or seeking spiritual coaching;
  • Determine your own act of kindness; and
  • Seek every opportunity to make this world a better place.
“When the whole world is silent, even one voice becomes powerful.”
Malala Yousafzai           It all begins with YOU.  What will you do in 2017?

Interested to learn more?  Please visit Four Directions Wellness upcoming classes at https://www.fourdirectionswellness.com/classes