It’s that time of year again.
The time when everyone decides to make the New Year their best year yet. “New Year, new me”. Though I’m a firm believer that the new year is a great time to change and grow, I’m also a firm believer that most of you are going about it the wrong way. But don’t fear, I’m here to inform you on how to REALLY make 2018 your best year, and it doesn’t involve an 1800 calorie diet or cutting nail-biting out of your daily routine.
Let me start off by saying you can change your life any time of the year. You can start your journey to a new and improved you in November, or maybe you won’t be ready to really change until May. Don’t allow yourself to be sucked into the symbolism of January 1st being the only time you can make a change to your life. When you get that fire in your belly, that motivation to be the best version of yourself you can be, act on it.
You can’t force change. You can’t force yourself to want to be better simply because it’s a new year. It’s a recipe for failure and falling back into bad habits by February. That being said, if this is your time to shine, and 2018 is good motivation for you, take the time to really look at yourself and do some self-reflecting. What really needs to be changed?
Maybe you need to lose weight, maybe you need to cut out pop from your diet, maybe you really need to quit smoking. But at the end of the day, are those things really going to make you a better person? If the answer isn’t yes, then I have a few suggestions for you -- a few ways you can really be the best person you can possibly be.
Be more kind. Sounds simple enough, right? The reality is that it isn’t -- not in this day and age. We live in a society based on selfishness, vanity, and materialism. Real, genuine, kind people are few and far to come by. I will admit, I was formerly one of the most selfish people I knew. Everything I did had a motive of “what can I get out of this” behind it. It’s probably safe to assume that a lot of people in this world have the same mentality.
Now, I choose kindness over my own personal gain. I make a conscious decision every day to wake up and be more kind. You see, when you’re kind to others, you receive kindness back. When you receive kindness, your day shines a little brighter.
Help a stranger carry their groceries to their car, say an extra special thank you to the lady who made your coffee this morning, smile more, give out more compliments. Don’t rush through your day trying to get the things that you need. Don’t be blind to the other people around you. Be kind.
Be more honest with yourself. Question yourself. Ask yourself, “Why am I doing the things I am doing?” Check in on yourself every single day, multiple times a day. “Am I taking on more than I can handle? Am I giving this my all? Are these things that I’m doing benefiting me?”
It’s important to check in on yourself frequently. We have a tendency to go through the motions of life without really understanding why we’re doing the things we are doing. We go through without considering whether or not, in the long run, those things are really doing us any good. Take care of yourself, and keep an eye on your soul.
Finally, this year, be a little selfish in a different way. Learn to say no when you aren’t comfortable with something. Take time for yourself. Only take on as much as you can truly handle. At the end of the day, you are all you have. Anyone else in your life can leave at any given time. The only constant is you. So be a little selfish, guard your heart, and take care of yourself before anyone else. Be kind to everyone, including yourself.