Creating the Life You Want

There is magic in new beginnings. They give us the chance to rethink and recharge. Because of this January offers each of us a great opportunity to make resolutions. I know, though, that sometimes the magic wears off.  I get it. You may be like me, as many of my resolutions over the years have been short lived. They were short lived because they ended up being just too longed termed for me. That is why this year, 2023, I am doing something different.

I am going to harness the magic of new beginnings by creating the life I want to live each day. It has been said,

“Time will pass away. You can either spend it creating the life you want or spend it living the life you don’t want. The choice is yours.”

This thought gives me power as it causes me to think about what I can do to create the life I want. And the magic is that I can live that life today! I don’t have to wait until some long away future date to reap the results of my goals and resolutions. Each day the small changes I make can be celebrated.

What does this look like in real life?  My plan is to have a focus for the year and then ask myself each morning, with my focus in mind, what is my intention for the day, to make a small difference for good in my life. My focus for this year is to live a healthier life. My doctor has told me, “You can control the pain and progression of your rheumatoid arthritis much better by managing your weight.” This makes sense to me and is something I want to do. What is something you would like to focus on this year? There are many resolutions and focuses. My son wants to be stronger by training and participating in an iron man triathlon. My sister wants to be more “well read” by reading 30 books. My friend wants to feel more peace by living in a more organized, less cluttered home.

I have learned in my journey to overcome depression and anxiety the importance of reaching out for help. I have consulted with some professionals on making a plan to live a healthier life. I have read about and learned many helpful ideas. I always seek spiritual strength through prayer. In addition, I am going to practice mindfulness each morning and come up with one intention, one phrase, one idea to create a healthier me just for that day. For instance, I will remind myself that a healthier me is possible. I can encourage myself by repeating mantras like: “Small efforts make a big difference!” I will also reread parts of the books that I have found helpful. I will then make a plan to do one thing that day.

The magic happens as I cheer myself on with a  “Yeah for me!” after each little effort I make. The magic happens as I enjoy a simple result, like having more energy that day. It is one step, one day, one result at a time. There may be a day when I make a step backwards and that’s the beauty of being human. I’ll just do my best and pick up where I left off and continue creating the life I want. I haven’t even thought about an end date for my focus because I am focused on today.

You, too, can create the life you want today. What is a good focus for you? What intentions can you initiate? Yes, time will pass, and we can make the decision to not let the life we want pass us by!