This past year has been hard. For a year that took far too many people from us, took far too much energy from us and gave us nothing in return, it doesn't come as a surprise that so many people are ready to leave it behind and look nowhere but into the future. Despite our eagerness to step into the new year, we need to be ready to release the past or risk being counterproductive.
Before the clock strikes midnight and the infamous ball drops, these are important things that must be done in order to let go of 2016, and welcome 2017:
1. Release toxic people from your life.
I know it's a cliché, cutting people off before New Year's, but the truth is, it's important. Allowing negative or unwanted people to continue taking up your energy isn't something you want in a new year. So let them go. The friends who have done you wrong time and time again, the ex who's social media you compulsively check, the person whose texts do nothing but drain you. Go through your contacts and start deleting. Go through your social media and start unfollowing. Let people go. Sometimes it's hard, but in the long run, it's beneficial.
2. Leave bad situations in the past.
After cutting people off, you have to leave all the terrible situations in the past. If there has been a moment that have done nothing but bring you down, let it go. You don't have to bask in negative situations forever: the loss of a job, a breakup, a failed class, etc. Allow yourself to feel the closure of the situation and leave it in the past.
3. Reflect on the past year.
As a common saying goes, history repeats itself. Sometimes we get so caught up in looking forward that we forget to look back. Though we should never bask in negative things, it's important to look back and remember them so they don't happen again. Reflect on the things that have happened and why they occurred. On the flipside, reflect on the positive things. In the midst of thinking that the past year was excessively bad, you may easily forget all the slightly positive things that also happened. Allow yourself to remember the good along with the bad.
4. Make resolutions.
Somebody once told me that New Years resolutions are just broken promises to yourself. I don't believe that's true. Though many people don't follow through with their resolutions, past March at best, the act of setting goals can never do more harm than good. Your resolution list doesn't have to be idealistic and far fetched. But putting even the smallest energy into the universe about the things you want to accomplish can help you accomplish them. Setting goals for yourself is a major key to getting organized and seeing what you want.
5. Have a positive outlook.
Having a positive outlook on the future can help manifest that positivity into reality. Going into something expecting it to be bad never has a positive outcome. Visualize what you expect your year to look like. See yourself reaching your goals, smiling, laughing, having fun. Whatever it is you want you year to be, visualize it then make it happen.
We all want to leave 2016 behind us. Make sure you do it the best way possible.
