LET'S LEAVE THESE THINGS IN 2017, SHALL WE?
With the clamour and excitement of the holidays already 12 days (!!) behind us and the routine of life settling in once again, the sentimentality of new year's resolutions has waned for most. As mentioned in my previous post, I did not make any resolutions but I did spend quite a bit of time reflecting on 2017. While some of the best things in my life came to fruition last year, I am still very aware that I was not at my best in many areas of my life. And that is my only real goal for 2018 and beyond. To be my best self. And in order to be my best self, there are some habits that I need to leave behind. Frankly, I think everyone should leave these energy-sucking habits behind. We'd all be better for it.
1. GIVING F*CKS
This might be the hardest one because, unfortunately for me, I was born a f*ck giver. I gave waaayyy too many f*cks in 2017. And in 2016. And every year before that. If I had a penny for every f*ck I gave, I'd have enough to retire on my own private island. But I'm just over it! Over being consumed with what people might say or think. Over wanting to be liked. Over anything that takes away from me living my best life. I’m officially out of f*cks to give.
2. COMPARING YOURSELF
"Comparison is the thief of joy". I discovered this quote by Theodore Roosevelt a few years ago and it has resonated with me ever since. I think this is something that most millenials probably struggle with in today’s hyper-competitive, look-at-how-awesome-my-life-is world. The funny thing is that if we took the time to actually be present in our own lives we’d appreciate the beauty of what is ours and no one else’s, and realize that there is more than enough room for us all. There’s absolutely no reason for anyone else’s success or accomplishments to take away from my happiness or diminish my success. You don’t need to compete with anyone. You are you and that is your power.
3. SETTLING FOR MEDIOCRITY
There are way too many people walking amongst us, completely oblivious to their mediocrity. Or even worse, completely content in their mediocrity. Completely unaware of the power they have to change their own lives. Let’s not be one of those people. Can we all stop settling for good enough? Let’s not be lazy about our dreams. Let’s not be lax about our goals. Let’s be great this year, yes?
4. BEING UNORIGINAL
I don’t know about you but I am sick of seeing someone on my Instagram feed who looks like someone else who looks like someone else who looks exactly like someone else. Or every other song on the radio that sounds like the other song which is a sample of another song from the 80s. Everything is all so much...the same. It’s so uninspiring. Whatever happened to doing your own thing? Being unique? Standing out? It’s so funny how everyone says “Do you, I’ll do me”. Ok, well do you then! Not her, YOU! Shoot, I’m about to do me like I’ve never been done before. Wait... that didn’t sound right. But..you know what I mean!
5. LIVING IN ECHO CHAMBERS
You know what, I think 2017 was a year that, for many obvious reasons, tilted the balance in a way which hadn’t been seen before. Certainly not in my lifetime. There were all these extremely polarizing opinions about everything under the sun and God forbid if you share your opinion on the wrong side of Facebook. I think a healthy dialogue is of such great importance, especially as it concerns coexisting with those who we may not see eye to eye with. And in order for such a dialogue to happen, we all need to be a bit more open to listening, even when we may not agree. The fact is this is where we are and we need to find a way to get to where we need to be. And that certainly won’t happen if we’re all shoving our heads in the sand.
Let's leave everything that's holding us back, weighing us down and stealing our joy in 2017. Let's make 2018 a year of Love and Light. And good vibes only.