We often hear “new year new you”. However, we should not be seeking a new version of ourselves, rather how can we reveal our true selves? How can we live from an authentic place? How can we learn more about ourselves so we can live a better, healthier or simpler life? What do you need the most to achieve your goals? Perhaps, it’s more alone time to connect with nature, or perhaps it’s more time with your spouse or kids. Think of things that you need the most that don’t cost money, that aren’t material that make you truly happy. Sometimes we get stuck in our comfort zone or we acclimate to things as they are. Reality check: you can step outside your comfort zone. You can do one thing a day that scares you. You have a voice. You have the power to do anything you want or be anything you want. Stop making excuses and replace them with the words “I am”. If you want to be happy, then your mantra for 2019 is “I am happy”. Mantras are phrases that are repeated over and over to yourself daily. I like to take 5 minutes in the morning to meditate (this includes my coffee at 5 am) and say my mantra. Your mantra can also be something you are not. For example, “I am not anxiety”. In other words, anxiety does not define you.
What I am encouraging you all do this year, if you haven’t started already is to keep a daily journal with 3 simple prompts each day: 1. I am/I am not….(Fill in the blank with a word. This is your mantra for the day); 2. My intention for the day is to… (this may be a goal you have for the day or may be related to your daily mantra); and 3. I am grateful for…(fill up the gratitude jar!). It’s much easier to stick to daily goals than it is to long term goals (although those are OK to have too), but yoga reminds us to BE PRESENT!
Lastly, take time for self care. Go to a yoga class, go outside to walk or hike, take a day off from work, go get your nails done or get a massage, sit on the couch and read a book, whatever it may be that brings you peace, do it often! You can’t pour from an empty cup! A yoga teacher, who studied in India, once told me this: “In the east it’s BE BE BE. In the west, it’s DO DO DO. To be balanced it’s DO BE DO BE DO BE!”
From my desk to yours,
Jenny Dayton, RYT
