New year, Better me

it’s all in your practice

As we have entered 2021, many like to implement new goals. Some have a long laundry list of resolutions, while some want to carry out broader resolutions through the new year. I am all for improving your lifestyle. However, for me personally, I have seen the best results when I have more general goals. I breakdown the goal and turn the “baby steps” into little habits. This way I can celebrate the little wins along the way and minimize feeling discouraged. This year I have three goals – a physical health goal, a mental health goal and a career goal. As I begin to work on my mental health goal – I came across the rose, thorn + bud exercise. It’s simple but I am confident it will be highly effective. I am sure most of you have heard of the peak + pit activity. They are very similar - the thorn is the pit (challenge) – the rose is the peak (success). The twist is the bud. I have read that some use the “bud” part of the exercise as a way to share things they are looking forward to, while others use it as a moment of innovation. Either way, both allow us to stimulate our brains. This is a great mental health check that you can incorporate into your daily routine, classroom, family dinners, etc. The beauty is how it allows you to connect with yourself and others in a short amount of time. Remember - reflection is key to becoming self-aware + gratitude leads us to happy living - So whether it’s while you are journaling or over the phone with a loved one - I hope you find yourself turning to this exercise. There is no better time than now to start your mindfulness journey.