What’s your New Year’s mantra?

What’s your New Year’s mantra? 

I’m not a fan of a New Year’s “resolution”.  Most of us don’t stick to them.  Many of them are unrealistic.  After all, no one ever lost 50 pounds in 3 weeks (not in a healthy manner, that is).   Instead, I like to think about what my priorities are currently and create a mantra that reflects those priorities.

For me, 2018 was all about soul searching and inner reflection.  Coming off of two solid years of health and personal struggles, I really wanted to focus on positivity and enjoying life instead of just going through the motions like a robot.  So I set out to redefine my priorities in what would become a year-long journey. 

I reexamined the daily lessons I was teaching my kids.  Was I practicing what I preached or just paying lip service to some generic, canned “parent” advice?   I have always told my kids to follow their dreams, to do what they love, to honor their individuality.  But I wasn’t doing the same.  I realized that my words and actions weren’t aligning.  I was stuck in a comfort zone that wasn’t adding a darn thing to the quality of my life.  I began to seriously examine what truly makes me happy and healthy.

I also revisited my purpose.  Many of us have the same short list of priorities, I’m sure.  Family, health, God, friends, work, hobbies.  But I wasn’t actively engaged in a lot of this; particularly in my own self.  I hadn’t moved on mentally from an uber-sucky two years.  I was stuck in an ugly mental space.  Plain and simple, I was going through the motions of life.  I hadn’t prioritized my priorities very well.  And I hadn’t prioritized myself at all.  I can’t expect to take care of anyone or anything well if I ‘m not respecting my own body, soul and mind.   I needed to add myself to the list.  I also needed to offer myself grace instead of beating myself up all the time.   We’ll talk about this again, I’m sure.  It seems to be a common theme with us women.

And probably the hardest task for me during 2018 was to finally accept what I couldn’t understand or change about my life (this came with lots and lots of therapy).   We can’t control others actions or reactions and we certainly don’t always understand their actions (or lack thereof).  I struggle with this immensely.  I have an innate need to know why people do the things they do.  But it’s just not always possible.  I’ve come to terms with realizing that sometimes you have to let go to be happy.    It has been the hardest lesson of my life.  I haven’t fully mastered it yet; but I’ve come leaps and bounds, that’s for sure. 

So what priorities do you want to focus on in 2019?  Can you sum them up in just a few words so that they become your own personal mantra?   My words for the New Year are passion; determination and discipline.   Let’s keep one another focused this year.   I know we can do it.