Pause and Positivity

”When coasting in our comfort zones, we don't grow. We continue to do more of the same.... Maintaining a comfort zone can, paradoxically, lead to discomfort in the long run. If by being comfortable we avoid important life issues, internal tension accumulates.... Eventually, as both internal and external pressures for change persist, the ‘comfort zone’ ceases to serve us."
~Eric Allenbaugh

The beginning of a new year is when I set my intentions for the coming year. I reflect on the past year, so that I can look at the current direction of my life and see if that is where I want to continue heading or if I need to adjust and change the course. I know it is easy to get too comfortable with life and coast or to be rushing from one activity to the next so that I am not conscious and aware of the choices I am making. So, I purposefully take time to evaluate  my values, needs, and desires.

I journal my responses to the following questions about the past year. I focus on:

• How did I spend my time?
• What is important in my life and what do I want to continue for the future?
• What do I need to let go of that is no longer serving me?
  
• What I am grateful for?
• What valuable lessons did I learn?
• What are the qualities of my most satisfying relationships and how do I continue to foster them?
• What books impacted me?

I answer these questions and reflect on what is most important and then I come up with a short statement or phrase for what I want to focus on for the upcoming year. It is not a resolution, but an affirmation of what matters in my life and where I want to put my attention so that I will focus my time and energy on what really matters most to me. In this way, I will end up where I am heading. After I have answered the questions for this year, I go back and review the answers from the previous years. I see where my focus has shifted and stayed the same on this journey in life.

In past years I have focused on creativity, spirituality, and fostering meaningful relationships. I will continue to do this, however, since it was an intention from previous years it has become an imbedded part of my daily life. This year my focused intention is Pause and Positivity. It is simple and easy to remember and each morning I can set this intention. My plan is to pause more often, to come back to the present moment and live in the now. I also want to focus on the positive and practice gratitude for all of the goodness in my life.


We each are on our own journey and my intentions will differ from yours. I highly recommend answering the questions above and come up with your intention for the year and practice it daily. Remember to keep it simple so you can easily remember it and live it fully.

What are your biggest lessons from 2017?

What are your intentions for 2018?