New Year, New You!
2017 is just around the corner, and everywhere I look is another celebrity diet or gym offering you a ticket to a new you in 2017. A new you is always enticing right!? In years gone by, I would always make a New Year’s resolutions based around changing how I looked or promising myself that I would ‘be good’ or ‘do better’. Drop a dress size, lose 10kg, commit to a strict paleo diet etc. You get the drift! I never really stopped and thought about all the other ways I could create a new me, or grow internally into another happier, improved version of me. I have already seen friends around me declaring that 2017 is their year to get back to their pre-baby body, or completely cut sugar out of their diet, or maybe go to the gym 5 mornings a week without fail. Well guess what? Firstly, they probably will ‘fail’. Perhaps not due lack of motivation or commitment, but because they have something unexpected pop up, or they feel unwell, or life just happens…
We put so much pressure on ourselves when we set strict goals or create goals from a place of hate or deprivation, and before we know it the things we should be doing because we enjoy them, like moving our bodies, become a burden or a chore (or even punishment). Setting goals is fantastic, but please oh please beautiful girl, make them realistic and create them from a place of love, not fear!
When thinking about the year ahead, instead of focusing on changing the physical you, consider working on the inner you! I can almost guarantee (almost!) that when you start focussing on the internal stuff, the external stuff will follow – body image, relationships, etc. Instead of jumping on the diet bandwagon, or punishing yourself with hours on the treadmill every day (unless that is totally your jam!) here are three different things you could think about doing to create a new you in the new year.
1. Read more often.
I’m not talking about newspapers or comic books either, I’m talking about books that foster self-growth! There are some amazingly empowering, soul touching books out there. Books like ‘The Universe Has Your Back’ by Gabby Bernstein or ‘Rise Sister Rise’ by Rebecca Campbell are some great places to start. If you can create some time before bed most nights to do some reading that will connect with your inner goddess, even one chapter, you are setting yourself up for good things! If reading a book isn’t your ‘thing’, there are plenty of gorgeous blogs, audio books and podcasts at your disposal!
2. Bump self-care to the top of your to-do list.
I am a huge believer in practising self-care every single day, to some degree. However, if it is a foreign concept to you or you can’t see how you could possibly make it work, start with one day a month. Actually schedule the day into your diary, even if it is only an hour or two, and be sure to follow through. You may give yourself a facial and enjoy a hot bath, in peace, on your own, with no interruptions. You may choose to go to the beach and read a book or do some writing/journaling. You might like to make a beautiful nourishing meal and sit down and enjoy it in the sunshine, mindfully, slowly, without worrying about anyone else. Or, maybe you could book in something regular that you enjoy, such as yoga class or art lessons. Whatever it is, ensure it is something that brings you peace and joy and reminds you how amazing and worthy you are to give yourself that time.
3. Try something new.
This could be ANYTHING! Is there something you have always wanted to do but never have, due to some sort of fear around what will happen if you do? Last year, I went to the beach in my swimmers for the first time – holy liberating! It was something I have always wanted to do but thought I couldn’t. I can tell you now that there will be plenty more visits to the beach this coming year! Trying something new is about doing something that steps you a little out of your comfort zone but brings a sense of accomplishment, pride or confidence. It could be hosting a dinner party using fresh whole foods, climbing a mountain, joining in a belly dancing class, or writing a book! The possibilities are endless. When you start to see how very capable you are of doing things you have only ever dreamt of before, you realise that you really can do anything!
In 2017 I urge you to embrace and nurture your authentic self. Focus less on how you look and more on how you feel. Do more of what makes you happy and makes you feel good, and less of what you ‘think’ you have to do or society expects you to do for a desired outcome. Self-growth, self-care and self-love are where it’s at. Get ready baby, you are about to grow in ways you never imagined! Happy New Year!
