“Deserving!”

January 1^st, 2019 – when it comes to the clock striking 12 o’clock and the beginning of a new year, the rules are, there are no rules! Do you – whatever that may be. If you feel it’s new year, new you – then go for it; but equally, if you feel it’s new year and you want to continue being you – then do that; or, if it’s new year, still don’t have a clue, that’s good too!

Make resolutions. Don’t. Try new things. Don’t. Get out of your comfort zone. Don’t. Just do you and whatever works for you and always be unapologetically you!

I used to make New Year’s resolutions but over the years that’s changed. The past few years I’ve taken to a vision board. A place where I put out all of my goals (personal, health, financial and work) and keep it up, all year, so I can physically see what it is I want to do/achieve.

For me, this works because I feel like I’m taking all the clutter out of my head and putting it out onto a physical space where I can I really see what it is I want/need. It’s not always just words, I also include pictures or phrases that catch my eye.

Last year, after reading a piece by Mia Freedman, I added another approach to how I start my new year. She wrote about not making resolutions but choosing a word you could use to keep you focussed/motivated. This spoke to me but I wasn’t sure it it would work for me. I tried it though, and I loved it.

Any time I was a little unsteady, I’d go back to that word, and to my vision board, and it would help centre me.

When I looked back at my vision board and my word of 2018, last week, I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had achieved much of what was there. Some are still a work in progress but I am a work in progress so that’s ok with me.

This year, I’m taking the same approach. It’s back to my vision board to do some editing. I need to allow myself to be more direct in what I ask of, and for, myself, and not hold myself back because I’m embarrassed to ask for too much or embarrassed by what others may think of what I want or me!

That brings me to my word of 2019. It stems from that and from a thought I’ve been having a lot in 2018 – I need to recognise that I am worthy. I am worthy of success, I am worthy of that pay cheque, I am worthy of saying no, I am worthy of better. So this year, my word is DESERVING.

I am going to try very hard to speak proudly of my achievements, accept compliments (instead of putting myself down when someone tries to say something nice), celebrate the little things, enjoy my personal time, be in the moment, love freely and deeply, choose kindness (to myself and others), appreciate the way I make it though the storms, and accept all of the good things that come my way – because I am DESERVING of it!

Here’s to 2019 being everything you want it, or need it, to be, finding ways to navigate the not so great times, and all the while, here’s to you doing you!