Each day allows for new opportunities, experiences, emotions, and personal growth. After reflecting on the past year, here are the top 7 things I learned in 2023:
- There are more mad and sad feelings than glad ones, which makes it more challenging to acknowledge and manage our emotions, but even more reason to do so.
2. Self-awareness, -compassion, -love reduce fear, guilt, and shame.
3. High sensitivity, a trait in about 15-20 percent of individuals according to Psychology Today, is both a curse and a beautiful gift. I strive to grow more into its giftedness.
4. Strength training makes both the body and mind stronger, while reducing or ridding chronic ailments. Past injuries do not need to dictate my current abilities. (See October 8, 2023 post).
5. Broader and compassionate perspectives about substance use and mental disorders are more helpful and healing than stigmas, unfounded opinions, and narrow solutions.
6. A grand baby can shift a world on its axis, giving birth to a renewed focus on life over death.
7. Forgiveness is not a one-and-done almighty act, but rather, according to Desmond Tutu and Mpho Tutu, a fourfold path that allows for processing and grieving, and ultimately validation of pain. It begins by first telling the story, followed by naming the hurt. Granting forgiveness comes third, and finally choosing to renew or release the relationship. This path holds power and possibilities towards true transformation for all. (The Book of Forgiving)
3 things I hope to learn more about in 2024
- Love. ❤️ Stay tuned for more on love in February. In the meantime, I highly recommend, Good Morning I Love You by Dr. Shauna Shapiro.
- Joy. ☀️ I look forward to reading The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.
- Breathing (literally). 😮💨 I’m currently reading Breath, the New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor
Be Momentous! 🌎
Try to identify how you feel when you first get up in the morning and ask yourself why? What’s behind your emotions? Take note for 21 days and see what you discover. Do you feel tired, anxious, excited? Or overwhelmed, or peaceful? And why? How are you doing in the beginning of this new year?