School’s back, holiday’s over, everyone is back to work and it is February already. Before we know it, the months will fly by. It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of life, living ruled by our schedules and calendars.
Before the year takes hold, it’s a good time to reflect on the previous year and to consider what you want this year to be. Instead of creating a list of things you want to do (that often can just add extra pressure or are short lived), think about it in terms of what energy you want to experience. For example, do you want more fun and effervescent energy, or do you need calm, grounded energy? Because we can’t always foresee what opportunities will come our way, having some descriptive words that align with the energy you want helps with deciding on activities to pursue. Often opportunities will present themselves when you are more open to them. Some questions that can be helpful to ask yourself are-
- Is there a colour that represents how you want the year to feel?
- Is there a texture?
- Is there a sound or soundtrack?
- Is there a word that captures what you would like the year to be?
- Is there an image or picture that represents experiences that align with that energy?
It can be helpful to reflect on last year using these questions and then think about what and how you would like it to be different. For example, if you felt last year was a grind and very routine, it may be represented as dull grey, an image of gears or cogs, flat in texture or rough sandpaper and a sad quiet song. This year, if you were wanting more fun and spontaneity, you may visualise colourful floating bubbles, the colour aqua, a fast bubbly song and shiny texture. There is no right or wrong, it is very personal and all that matters is how it is represented for you.
Once you have thought about the colour, word, texture, picture or image, and sound, write it down (in your diary or even in your online calendar as a repeated event that pops up to remind you). You could even try to find an image or two that captures the energy you want more of – save it as a screen saver or keep it somewhere you can see often. Reading over your descriptions and looking at the images, reflecting on them every month or 3 months helps you stay connected with your goal. It becomes your list of criteria that you can use to determine if an activity or demand aligns with your needs and if you need to place yourself in situations where those opportunities can happen. For example, you may like to join a dance class or ask a friend to do a pottery class together. Of course, it is also totally okay if it changes, you may decide you want more or less intensity. As you try new things or reconnect to activities you once enjoyed, listen to how your mind and body feels – if it sings and feels good, then you know you need more of it, and you may feel more adventurous to try new things.
Opportunities present new opportunities – you only know once you have tried!
Hope this year is a great year for you!