2023

 It's January 2023.  20-23.  As I typed that I let it sink in.  What does that mean for me? What does that mean for you? Generally during the year end holidays people rev up for the new year and start to say things like "new year new me."  But what do we really mean?  What are we really implying?  We make resolutions (or renew old ones) to forget what they were by the end of the month.  But how do we really become the new versions of ourselves?

The fact of the matter is we become the new versions of our selves gradually, even without really noticing.  We are shaped by the world around us since we are children.  Life events, including traumas inform us on a mental and emotional level and gear us up to who we are.  Even as adults we shift our beliefs and views based on the traumas we endure.  Have you ever had a terrible break up after high school and that change your whole outlook on life and your approach to people and relationships?  Notwithstanding this, we are habitual creatures.  Half the times the decisions we make are out of habit and unless we are intentional about changing those habits do we really see change?  

This brings me back to the "new year new me" thing.  When we say these things they are rooted in the desire for change-- the need for change.  However, unless we are intentional about the change we want to see it often won't come.  We revert back into habits and before we know it, it is mid-year and we resolve to next year being "our year."  Change doesn't have to be at the start of a new year, a new month, or a new week.  You don't have to wait til Monday to exercise or eat healthy.  You can be reading this on January 2, 2023, or on October 31, 2040 and the same thing apply.  This is your sign to start today.  

 Start with a change in your mindset. 1) Be positive.  Its easy to harbor on the bad and get caught up in all of the things that went wrong in 2022, rather than to hone in on the blessings.  2) Think of one major way you want to change and set tangible goals.  If you choose 10 things that you want to fix and try to tackle them all at the same time, you will have started 10 things and chances are finished none.  If you're not sure what that one thing is, pray on it.  Chances are the prayer part is it.  3) Do it.  I hate to quote big name brands, but "Just do it."  Once you get in the rhythm of doing this one thing, you can begin to build.  

Just remember if you don't change your mindset you won't change your habit.  As my pastor recently stated, "you don't need another resolution; you need a revelation." This is about Mind, Body, and Spirit.  What you purpose and set in your mind can and will ensue in your body and your spirit. Let's not just talk about it, let's be about it.  Let the change come from within. But lets do one to do that we can go back to at the end of this year.  

ACTIVITY

Take a jar, and fill it weekly with a folded paper that depicts something good that happened to you that week. You want to write the things that have impacted you.  At the end of the year you can look back on the 52 wonderful things that impacted your life over the year, and made you better.  Its a great way to practice gratitude and to remember the good things which is often hard to do.  If you don't have a jar, go to dollar tree to get one, before this week ends and be sure to log your first impactful moment this weekend!