The Happiest New Year!
New Year, New Beginnings
BY TOYIA PETERS, LCSW & KATHY ZEIGLER, MD
January 2021 | Issue No. 1
A new year especially 2021 often brings about the hope and the excitement for new beginnings. The hope that we get to start anew and take another shot at our goals, our dreams and our desires is...thrilling. We get to take another step forward into life with a higher sense of purpose and make the most of the next 12 months ahead of us. We jump up with an increased vigor and zest to live in the present, seize the day and make the most out of the time now. We often feel another year represents a new opportunity. We take that energy and say to ourselves: “I’m ready to throw all my efforts into this year’s resolutions! This moment right now is urgently more important than any other before.”
So, what makes this new beginning different? How can you reach a new level as they say and live more intentionally, maintain your newfound enlightenment? In order to keep that zeal or ‘fire under your feet’ throughout the year, it’s about how you start over each day to allow for its ‘new day’ opportunities, the same as what each new year offers. When we reflect upon how to do this every day of the year, we’ve come up with 3 essential ‘Vitamin Cs’ - Cleanse, Commit, Concentrate:
Cleanse - Cleansing allows for that fresh renewal that no other thing, feeling or idea gives. After bathing your skin, your hair and your body are clean, you feel lighter and energetic. As if you can accomplish anything because of this spotless starting point you have created. But cleansing is not just about the external. Of course, exfoliating and scrubbing away the dirt and filth that has affixed itself to the outer parts reveals a beautiful underlying layer. But inner cleansing is just as important when you clear out spaces in your mind, body and spirit. You rid yourself of clutter, waste and useless, unnecessary items which can be symbolic, representing a shift in your mindset. No longer does negative energy or unhelpful beliefs slow you down or hold you back. It may even be a springboard that advances your starting line. With this type of internal cleaning, you can form new year rituals and routines enabling you to reach your previously unattainable goals. What is one thing that you need to cleanse out of your life to get to your goal?
Commit - This begins with you knowing you are important enough to make a commitment to yourself. This commitment puts YOU before work, family or other responsibilities of the pressing day that lies ahead. You may want to focus on becoming more self-aware. Or being physically and mentally healthier. Maybe unapologetically self-nurturing. And what-say what...just regal! Committing to you is the new sexy; it is a truly, outstanding act of self-love. What it isn’t is selfish or narcissistic. You can't be all you desire to be and achieve all you plan to achieve if you don't commit to your goals, your dreams and the most important person in your life - you. Are you letting guilt or some other wild emotion cancel out your very critical commitment for self-care?
Concentrate - This ‘C’ is one that you must closely consider. Do you have a place to focus, unwind, relax and just plain concentrate in? Does the mom, wife, daughter or maybe single person in you have a space to escape from life and just be you? This place may be a room or a special chair or the patio outside where you can listen to music or nature, smell your candles, cooking or baking, think/pray/meditate or reflect on thoughts new and old. Be open to the transformed or new ideas that only a moment of quiet, separated reflection can provide. When you are not distracted with the 1000s of undertakings in your day, you can concentrate, commit and keep your mind clean and clear to be successful and complete your resolutions over the next 365 days.
Remember the three “Vitamin Cs” daily
Forgive yourself quickly if you ever get off track and
Prepare to celebrate all of your awesome accomplishments in 2021!
