Coming Home to Yourself

Over the next month or so there will be a lot of talk about setting New Year’s Resolutions and making change for 2025.  Many of us have every intention of sticking to a resolution, but tend to break it shortly after making it.  So instead of following the same route for yet another year and then being disappointed, the suggestion is to encourage peace, happiness, self-love, and respect for those around us.

Taking care of ourselves is something that is always last on our to-do list  When it comes to others we will give up what we are doing or what we have to make them happy. Giving is a wonderful quality to have and can be very rewarding.  However it is also important to look after our own wellbeing and care for our happiness and health.

Looking after your health and watching what you eat is an important step in maintaining your wellbeing. When the pace is fast and there isn’t much time, there is a tendency to eat what is available rather than choosing foods that offer valuable nutrition and energy.  Fresh vegetables, fruit and whole grains are the preferred option to buying take-aways and readymade meals.

Watch your words carefully you speak to others so that you can prevent a cycle of anger and resentment. We often say hurtful things to others without thinking first, and once the words have been uttered they can never be taken back.  Look at your motivations for what you say to others. Are you giving them constructive criticism out of love, or are you trying to hurt the other person?

An optimistic approach towards life is far better than viewing every situation from a negative standpoint.  Look at your problems from as many angles as possible instead of only seeing one alternative ahead of you. In this way you have a greater view of your life and what you can do to sort out your challenges. Write down your strengths so that you can use them as tools when you need to deal with adversity. If you do experience failure, see it as an opportunity for growth and change.

Find constructive ways to interact with others and your community. There may be something that you can do to make a difference in the lives of those around you or even your suburb.  You can apply this principle in the workplace and make a point of saying something good to the people that you work with on a daily basis. A happier working environment helps to reduce tension amongst people and builds positive relationships. Research has found that people truly flourish in a happy and harmonious working environment.