A new year. A blank slate. A fresh start. No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again.
Welcome to 2022. If you haven’t already done so, it is time to reinvent yourself. You are never too old to set new goals or to dream BIG. Enter this year with the intention to do life on purpose. Don’t just sleepwalk through your existence. Actually be present each and every day. Set goals. Make a list of every damn thing you’ve ever wanted to do, and then start doing them one at a time, even if it takes months to accomplish. (1. Write a screenplay, 2. Learn to play ukulele, 3. Travel to Hawaii, etc.).
Schedule JOY as if it were a business meeting. Make it a priority in your day, every day. If you are clueless about how to do that, make another list of things that actually bring you joy (1. Eat chocolate, 2. Call favorite person who makes me laugh, 3. Sit outside in sun for ten minutes with my eyes closed, etc.).
Envision yourself being fearless, emotionally balanced, healthy, happy, strong and at peace. Stop being so hard on yourself. Every day brings a new challenge and you will get around to each challenge, after you make time for the things on your lists, like sitting outside in the sun for ten minutes. And if the sun isn’t shining where you are, then call that person that makes you laugh for just ten minutes, and then get back to work. Every experience helps us grow in self awareness and brings clarity. So be patient with yourself, but make sure you aren’t just sleepwalking through each day, because every day is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself and the world at large.
At the end of the day, close your eyes and think about which part of your day was your favorite. Was it walking through the park on your way to work and seeing a particular bird? Was it getting a funny text from a friend you haven’t heard from in a while? Was it tasting the lasagna that you baked from scratch for your family? Whatever brought you joy, try to include that in your day tomorrow. And then express gratitude for the day that just ended, while welcoming the next day as you prepare to begin again.