Hello!

It’s that time of year!

Twinkling lights, beautiful trees, menorahs, holiday music playing everywhere, and maybe even a kitchen full of traditional cookies. You might have snow, or like me, Christmas lights on palm trees, but nearly everyone I know enjoys this time of year. The music, the presents, the parties … it’s a joyful time of year. Sometimes, this time of year is hard for people because of losses, being away from loved ones, or complicated family dynamics. Whether you love, or have trouble with this time of year, most people I’ve spoken to recently have something nagging at them, in the back of their mind.

Something is lurking underneath the surface, a dark cloud of pressure that grows the closer we get to January 1st and that clock striking midnight in your time zone. What’s that dark cloud?

New Year’s Resolutions.

Did you just feel a brief flare of stress and anxiety? Have you made your list yet? Are you dreading the New Year because there’s a feeling that at soon as that clock strikes midnight you have to magically become a new person?

Today, I want to talk about how to change this yearly dread from a negative into a positive. I want to help provide support so that you can reach and succeed at whatever goals you want to set for yourself for 2023.

Intentions can be good or bad, depending on how you feel about them, and the energy behind the desire to change. If you want to get the most out of resolutions, or Intentions, you have to know why you’re wanting the change. You have to be connected to yourself, your dreams, and your goals. More than all of that, you have to believe you deserve those changes.

It sounds silly, I know, but so many of the attempts we make for positive change fail because we get in our way. How many times have you gotten in your way? How many times have you allowed negative thoughts or others’ opinions to sideline you in your own life? I’ve done it! We all have at one time or another, and that’s okay.

Set yourself up for success by first connecting to what you want to be different in 2023. Is the thing you’re thinking about something you’re excited about? Is it an actual change you want to make for a healthier mind, spirit, and body? Or, are you sabotaging yourself before you even begin because the intention you’re thinking of setting is something you think you should be doing or because other people around you are doing something and you want to keep up with them? Even if only for appearance’s sake. Normally, I don’t like the word should, because it instantly stresses people out. But it’s important to pay attention to when that word pops up in our minds, and how often.

There is massive personal power in setting Intentions. Whether it is daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly – there is an incredible amount of positive energy to be found in this gift. Yes, setting Intentions is a gift you give yourself. You want to be more yourself. You want more energy. You want to be living a life that feels authentic and beautiful to you. Right?

You have time between now and the New Year. Time for you to connect to yourself. Find quiet moments, a few minutes at a time, every day. You can’t make changes if you’re not connected to the current reality of your life. You can’t set a positive Intention if you don’t know what you want. Take time- what do you want next year? Who do you want to be? What hobby do you want to spend more time doing?

Start small. Don’t expect to suddenly keep up with healthy eating, the gym, new hobbies, healthy boundaries, more travel, or whatever else to all happen in one day (or one month). Set your year up for success by starting small, and building up. As much as we’d all like to have thousands of dollars at the end of January for a trip, that’s not realistic for everyone. Does that mean you shouldn’t still save all year? You can still take that trip, but it might not happen tomorrow and that’s okay!

I have found that people often achieve more success with resolutions, or Intentions if instead of picking line items of things to change (which begins to feel overwhelming), they pick a theme for the following year. Self Love, Joy, Trying New Things, Travel, Simplicity, Happiness, Connection, there are so many. Return to these Intentions as often as you need to! Be willing to change Intentions as well. What you need in January will be different from what you need in June.

Let’s make 2023 magical! Connect in.

What’s your theme? Comment below and share yours to help inspire others!

Big Hugs!

Robin