Over the past few years, I’ve been gung ho on new year resolutions, and every year I pull out my list from the year before only to feel disappointed for not living up to my own lofty expectations. I realize this constant pressure we put on ourselves, the hope followed by the crash of emotional guilt and shame, is not helping us live a life we are proud of.
This year, my list is not a list at all but an intention. I am choosing to step more fully into who I really am. That’s it. No long lists, no new gym memberships or crazy diets. Just more authenticity.
Because when we are honest and authentic with ourselves, we naturally make smarter choices and take better care of ourselves.
It all stems from you being true to yourself.
When you nurture the inside, the outside will flourish.
2018 marks a powerful year for us all if we choose to accept the invitation to be honest with ourselves and step into our true selves, the real us that is ready to shine.
This looks like immersing yourself in life and letting go of expectations. Being more present in your journey and releasing the need to get there, because you realize that everything is in the right order. Let’s stop trying to change ourselves and instead let the natural transformation take place by aligning with our true self.
Connecting to your love, the light within you, your source, your inner being and true self is the best way to live a purposeful life.
Aim for that feel-good feeling that comes with aligning yourself to purpose and your life will be easier.
What if we change it up? Instead of focusing on resolutions, why not just focus on living a more purposeful and passion-filled life? Instead of making goals that you’ll feel guilty for not achieving, simply intend to be your best self. Everything else will take care of itself.
If you’re ready to make the most of 2018, I created a blueprint to help you start feeling better a.s.a.p.
Here are five things to help you live more authentically:
1. Strip Down
In my book Find Your Happy, I share how clearing out clutter will make room for what you want. I am getting ready to move overseas, so I’ve been decluttering a lot, and it is liberating. Look around at all your stuff and ask what can go. The author of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Kondo, lists categories in this order: “Clothes first, then books, papers, miscellany, and lastly, mementos.”
2. Prioritize Your Health
For many years wellness took a back seat for me. Even through I was a wellness writer, I’d put everyone else first, clients, family, friends, and I was exhausted all the time. How happy can we be if we aren’t really showing up for ourselves? It wasn’t until I wrote the book The Self-Love Experiment did I put myself on a self care routine that radically improved my life. Take care of yourself first, and then you will be able to be there more fully for others. I started a detox 6 weeks ago, which includes eating mostly organic vegetables, fruit and healthy lean meat, similar to the Paleo diet, I found this works for my body type. My skin has cleared up, I have less cravings and I’ve lost weight. The goal is to find what works for you. Health and self-care is not a one size fits all. It is about you learning how to listen to your own body and trust your instincts. I also added Nature Made vitamins – specifically their Fish Oil, Magnesium, and Vitamin D, to my daily health routine. We don’t often think about supplements being part of our health routine, but I’ve discovered they are essential for a balanced life.
3. Set Boundaries
One of the questions I get asked most after workshops is “How can I find time to do what I love when I am so tired?” The truth is, we set boundaries. Most of us say yes to things we really want to say no to. We feel overwhelmed and end up sacrificing our own time, energy, and money. When you set boundaries for yourself, you’ll have more time to do the things you really want to do. So practice saying “No” and watch your life transform.
4. Stop Efforting
For years, I worked ALL the time. I didn’t know how to relax. I would always fill my time with the endless to-dos, but recently I discovered the transcendent magic of releasing the pressure to do more by simply being. I no longer put fourth so much effort, and interestingly enough, things I want come to me without much strain. We don’t have to work so hard to get what we want. We simply have to align ourselves to what we want and trust that everything is in the right order.
5. Repeat Mantras
When I first left advertising and depression, I had a lot of fear about running my own business and becoming a writer. I’d think things like, “Who am I to share what I’ve been through? No one cares what I have to say, I can’t make a living doing what I love.” Mantras were the tool that pulled me through. I created positive intentions that radically changed my perspective. By repeating positive affirmations, we can retrain our brain to overcome fear and see the truth, which is love. Mantras are so powerful, I put my favorite into a 365-day guide and affirmation deck. You can pre-order Find Your Happy Daily Mantras here.
Photos by Karly Santiago and Giulia Bertelli
Disclosure: This post contains partner links. I teamed up with @NatureMadeVitamins as a #StartAnotherGoodDay ambassador to help you make the most out of each day. As a paid Nature Made Ambassador, I share my top wellness strategies to make 2018 your most feel-good year yet.
Beautiful! Thank you Shannon! I loved every word because you have written my exact intentions for this year! Last year I reached burn out – my life was better than ever in many ways (progress!) but still I was often near melt down because I didn’t put my self care first, I gave others my time, didn’t get much sleep, worked constantly etc. I’ve decided this year is different and I’m having epiphany after epiphany as to how to transform my life with ease! It’s exciting! Your work is really resonating with me and you always make me smile with your energy and passion! Keep being you! Thank you, I’m so grateful xx
What a perfect intention for you as you move forward. Thank you for your kind words and sharing.