All of us build connections and associations to our environments: physical, mental, social, etc.
These associations lead our brains to act on autopilot. Where these associations can cause harm is when we have created blurred associations that lead us to react in a way that is not healthy or helpful to us.
The New Year with its focus on goals and self-improvement can be one of those things that have created blurred associations.
Anyone heard the phrase ‘New Year New Me’? The pressure to be and do more while in a place of disappointment is often an internalized sense of stress.
I would like to disrupt this blurred association along with is pressure to produce, and help you create a new association and different focus as we start this New Year.
Instead of focusing on what you didn’t achieve in the past year(s) and focus on all the things you need to do to remedy that and become a ‘better you’. I would instead invite you turn your attention inward and think of those moments of accomplishment and joy (no matter how small) and let that wash over you.
Now, with that feeling at the forefront of your attention, take a moment to write down the things that are important to you. Not what your job or friends and family say are important; but the things that resonate with your soul.
After you’ve taken some time to really think about what is important, let’s now turn our attention to the now and building a path to the future.
Here are some questions to consider as you start to plan out your focus for the year ahead:
What are you most proud of accomplishing this past year?
Is there a word or short phrase that embodies what you are most proud of accomplishing?
Was there something important that you wanted to achieve but didn’t?
Where are you led to focus your intention this year?
How do you want to feel at the close of this year?
This short list of questions isn’t meant to be rigid. Feel free to be creative and add questions or thoughts that come up through this exercise.
The intention is to have improved focus and a solid place from which to start the year.
Happy New Year!
‘Like a tree deeply rooted and unmovable so should we aim to be. Living fully with the things we value and love blooming like fruit from the widespread branches of our lives’ – Charron Andrus (Owner, Andrus Consulting)