I don't normally share what I write in my Wellness Wednesday newsletters on the blog, but I really wanted as many people as possible to benefit from this short and sweet message that I sent out to my subscribers a couple weeks ago:
Wow, this is officially the final dispatch of the Wellness Wednesday newsletter for 2017!
And my, what a year it's been. Especially within the last couple weeks, things have been feeling really hectic. Babies about to be born, friends' loved ones passing away or leaving, anger on social media over the state of the country, hard conversations, new money goals, new fitness goals, lots o' learnin', and just generally a whooole lotta energy shifting around.
Throw in the emotionally-laden holiday season, and it's no wonder people get overwhelmed during this time of year.
We could all use a little more simplicity.
This year, I'm simplifying my annual reflection and new year resolution-making by asking myself one simple question.
But before I do, I want to acknowledge the fact that new year resolutions - which I think are better-called "new year intentions" - have a bad rap of not working! Because seriously, if you want to set a goal for yourself, start by figuring out what you'll do differently next week... not arbitrarily naming what you want 365 days from now!
But more importantly, resolutions are often divorced from emotion. And without emotion, what's to propel you forward? We are humans after all, not robots. We operate on emotion at our core, not on batteries or algorithms.
So let's keep our new year intentions simple and heartfelt this year.
Ask yourself: How do I want to feel in 2018?
This is your deeper "why" for any goals, decisions, or actions you may play with in 2018. This will be your motivation and measuring stick for success.
Maybe start with just one, because again, simplicity!
The purpose here isn't to force yourself to feel a certain way, but to take action to align yourself with the things, situations, or people that promote your desired feeling.
As for me, I want to feel UNAPOLOGETIC in 2018.
...Unapologetic about the way I earn money, the people I surround myself with, my dorky personality, or even the way my apartment looks. I want to feel unapologetic about how I live my life and how my life looks.
I've already starting asking myself this question every morning, and it's already spurred me into action - mostly in the realm of having difficult conversations that have been long-time-coming. It's also led me to reassess what type of companies I want to work with and even what types of rugs I have on my floor!
What about you?
How do you want to feel in 2018?
To get you started, here's a list of emotions we often feel when we're happy, fulfilled, or getting our needs met:
Delighted
Compassionate
Energetic
Exhilerated
Vibrant
Passionate
Kind
Loving
Trusting
Proud
Sparkling
Light-hearted
Lively
Serene
Open-hearted
Empowered
Safe
Inspired
Thankful
Optimistic
Centered
Revived
Wonder
Jubilant
Radiant
Excited
Curious
Stimulated
Hopeful
I can't wait to see what's in store for both of us, just around the bend.
Much love, laughter, and heartfelt intentions,
Diana