Want 2017 to be your year of true balance, happiness and health? You can make it happen! By implementing a few simple yet powerful changes, 2017 will be your year to make amazing things happen!
1. Set goals.
Your goals can be simple or vast. Goals don’t have to be huge to mean something. They simply need to make an impact. It can be something as simple as wanting to meditate everyday or committing to yoga once a week. One of my goals is to do yoga once a week, and it’s helped me tremendously!
Big goals are great too. For example, wanting to save a large sum of money to be able to take that trip out of the country or wanting to lose even 50 pounds. A big goal for me is to go to culinary school. It’s a passion of mine, and the things I’m doing now are setting me up to achieve that goal within the next couple years. Goals are essential to helping us feel balanced. They also challenge us and give us something special to work towards. It’s rewarding to complete a goal, big or small.
2. Start a gratitude journal.
Gratitude journals are tried and true. They help us focus on what we have, rather than the scarcity in our lives. If you find pleasure in doing it everyday, great, if not, try every other day. Every other day I take 5 minutes to write down 10 things I am truly thankful for. When I do this, I really feel it in my heart and I don’t let other things distract me while I’m doing it. It’s impossible to feel grateful and unhappy/stressed at the same time, so give it a try!
3. Try something brand new.
This one is very much open to interpretation. It can be anything that takes you out of your comfort zone or makes you feel alive. You could take up an instrument, go to a painting or dance class, try pilates or yoga (even hot yoga, its exhilarating) or, if you’re feeling feisty boxing is a great choice. When we’re taken out of our comfort zones, we evolve. It’s a beautiful transformation everyone should experience.
4. Squash a bad habit.
Do you have a bad habit you just haven’t been able to break? Now is the time. Stomp it out, let it go once and for all. There is no better time than right now. Telling yourself you’ll let it go tomorrow or next month sets you up to fail. When you do get rid of a bad habit, something magical happens. You feel powerful inside and it gives you the strength to move forward. As humans, growth and change is important.
5. Tell yourself that you want to be healthier, happier and balanced.
A while ago I read the book “The Secret”, by Rhonda Byrne, and it’s such a powerful book I’d recommend it to anyone. The book centers around the idea of The Law of Attraction, which states that like attracts like. It asserts that positive attracts positive and negative attracts negative. Thus, by telling yourself, “I want to be happy, I want to be healthy, I want to feel balanced”, you’re setting yourself up for precisely those things. The universe will work in your favor to bring those things to you. If you think positive thoughts, you’ll get more in return, but if you think negative thoughts, you’ll get negativity in return. 1 This idea can work in so many different areas of your life to bring about positive change. In my experience, positive thinking evokes more energy, happiness and creativity. It’s a brilliant concept and I can wholeheartedly attest to its usefulness. So, what have you got to lose in trying it?
6. Try a once a week juice fast.
This one is tough, but also vital. It’s something I personally want to start in 2017. There are numerous, diverse fasting options, but the most important guideline is to do whatever works best for you. One fasting option you could try is to drink as much lemon water as you like, but no food. The lemon serves as a great detoxifier. Another option is to supplement lemon water with fresh pressed juices from your local store. These are convenient and tasty. If you want something even fresher and have your own juicer, you could buy veggies and juice them yourself. This can, however, get pricey.
So, I’m sure you’re asking yourself, what is the point of this? It’s simple. Doing a fast gives your digestive system a break. It may sound crazy, but we are constantly overworking our digestive systems by eating every day. Similarly, if a hamster is running constantly on a wheel, it can go for a long time, but eventually it’s going to have to rest. Think of it as weekly spring-cleaning for your digestive system. Want another great reason to fast? It tests our self-discipline. Embarking on a no food fast once a week is something to be proud of. Fasting is hard, yes, but is anything truly worth it ever easy?
I hope these quick tips have helped you on your quest for balance, happiness and health in 2017!
References: 1. http://www.thelawofattraction.com/
The views expressed in this entry are strictly my opinion and do not reflect the views of Wishing U Well. Any decision to use supplements to support your specific needs should be considered in partnership with your healthcare professional.
