The New Year is always an exciting time for new hopes and dreams, plans, and opportunities. While we know continuing to be careful during the pandemic means continued social distancing and restrictions, we can still reflect, set our intentions for what we desire in our lives, and work toward our goals and dreams.
Today, someone commented to me that 2020 allowed us to reflect a lot more than usual, with more time at home, fewer social engagements, no work or school commutes for many, and much less running around than we usually do! This is probably true for many of us. Most people I speak with are so excited for 2021, so perhaps they’ve had an opportunity to reflect, and have set intentions for creating a new 2021. We are all looking forward to putting 2020 behind us, but what will 2021 bring?
We can only control what we can control. So, let’s focus on that. What are your intentions for 2021? Here’s one approach to evaluating your current situation and determining your goals related to your health and happiness.
EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT SITUATION AND OUTLINE YOUR INTENTIONS
First, settle into a place of unconditional love and non-judgment. (This is important, so don’t skip this.)
Which area(s) of your life would you most like to improve? Is it your home, career, relationships, physical activity, nutrition, finances, etc.?
What’s your definition of true health and wellness? Set one intention around health – how do you want to feel?
Are you satisfied in your current relationships? How would it feel if things were different? Write down the most important component of your ideal relationship. Do you have a nurturing spiritual practice? How might your life change if you did? Write down one way spirituality could help you. Evaluate your career. Are you just going through the motions? Are you using your inherent skills, while also acquiring new ones? Are you excited to get out of bed every day? Write down one way you could start to create your ideal work situation, or learn to love the one you already have.
SET GOALS TO FULFILL THE INTENTIONS YOU OUTLINED.
Take a few deep breaths, then complete the following exercises to create your more concrete goals.
First bring awareness into your body and accept the way you look, feel, your relationships, spirituality, career, etc. Accept it all, and be with yourself in the present moment.
Write down one small action step to work toward your health goals – it could be eating more green vegetables, more protein, reducing sugar and processed foods, or releasing anxiety around eating. Or perhaps you will increase your yoga practice an extra day each week. Whatever it is, take action steps each day to bring you closer to your goals – whether that means creating an exercise schedule and sticking to it, committing to going on a date with your partner each week, meditating daily, or reorganizing your workspace to fit your needs.
DECLARE YOUR INTENTIONS – OUT LOUD!
Whether you say them to a friend, loved one, or to yourself in the mirror, voicing your intentions loud and clear will help you fulfill them.
Acknowledge any conflicting intentions, and decide which ones will bring you the most fulfillment. Stretch your imagination a little, acknowledging that total satisfaction is attainable. Bring awareness to the fact that your intentions can and will change, but if you have a starting point and a road map of how you want your life to look, you can easily course-correct.
Outline your perfect day if all these components were in alignment. What would you do, how would you feel, and what would you look like? How would your actions and interactions change? Savor your precious energy, and only pursue goals that make you feel completely alive and nourished.
This is your life. You are in charge. If not you, then who?
Let me know what you think, and if you need help feel free to contact me at coachmaryellen@outlook.com and we’ll talk about your intentions and goals, and how to achieve them!