Can you feel the energy? That spark of renewed enthusiasm in the air? It’s that unique time of year when energies shift, motivation spikes, goals are formulated, and resolutions are made. I love how January brings an excitement for new possibilities! I’ll be the first to admit that planning new ventures for the year is addictive and energizing.
On the flip side, I also find it somewhat flawed that January 1st marks such occasions of renewal, as if that’s the only time of year we can embark on change and transformation. Why must we wait? What if we don’t accomplish all our goals? Then what? Are we destined to feel disappointment or other not-so-good feelings about ourselves until the next January? That seems so counter-productive and counter-intuitive, especially since studies show that a whopping 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February.[i]
There are countless articles and blogs out there that tackle the subject of why we fail, but I’m more interested in finding ways to celebrate our successes… our accomplishments. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying setting goals are not important. Those who know me well, know that I’m very goal oriented and I love creating a new vision board every January. I’m all about manifestation! Still, my primary focus is not if I achieve my goals, but rather, how I spend my time. To quote Mark Twain, “Success is a journey, not a destination. It requires constant effort, vigilance and reevaluation.”
More specifically, I like the evaluation and reevaluation part of the process. During my Soul Coaching Practitioner training, I had to complete an exercise that has since become invaluable to me. I was asked to write down 20 things that make me uniquely ME…the things that I love about me. Then I had to record myself saying these things and listen to the recording daily for 30 days. Wow! Talk about powerful! Do you know how hard it is to listen to yourself speak about why you love yourself?
At first, it felt weird and uncomfortable, almost like I was being pretentious. Then something amazing happened. I began to absorb, as if through osmosis, what I wrote down and I no longer felt misguided conceit. Instead, I felt empowered, important, and worthy of happiness. I was celebrating my strengths instead of focusing on my weaknesses. As a result, my successes overshadowed my perceived failures, causing a beautiful ripple effect of self-positivity. The process of speaking my truth, of speaking aloud and hearing my voice celebrating qualities I love about myself made me feel capable of tackling the world. I learned on a deeper level that sound is powerful, our voices are sacred instruments, and our words hold great power.
I encourage you to activate that same inner voice of power. Next to your list of New Year’s resolutions, also acknowledge your successes and celebrate YOU. Write down 20 things that make you uniquely YOU…the things that you love and celebrate about you. These do not have to be grandiose accomplishments or accolades either! Often, it’s the little, non-tangible, overlooked qualities about us that make the biggest impact. Here are a few from my list as an example.
I love and celebrate:
· my genuine desire to help others love and celebrate themselves.
· my belief that there is good in everyone.
· my braveness to change my life path from a job that was no longer making me happy to a career that is my divine purpose.
· that I have made a difference in the lives of countless people, even if I’m not always aware of my reach.
· my desire to continuously learn new things and expand my consciousness.
After you make your list, keep it on your phone for when you need a reminder. Then, audio or video record your list and listen to it every day for 30 days. Throughout the year, if you ever feel unworthy or incapable of greatness, listen to your recording again and again and again until your words have rewritten any negative narratives that have taken up residence in your mind.
Remember, although it’s far easier to focus on what you haven’t achieved, it takes less time and energy to focus on what you have, and the results are enormously different. What would you rather do until next January…knock yourself down because you didn’t complete a resolution or build yourself up because you have managed to live your life this far and have already accomplished so much? I know what I choose…I choose to celebrate ME and YOU!
[i]https://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/articles/2015-12-29/why-80-percent-of-new-years-resolutions-fail