I think 2017 will be a selfish year for many. I’ve chatted with a lot of friends and family members, and for some reason it seems that the theme of this year is to focus on bettering yourself. It is never too late to make changes in your life. With a new semester comes new responsibilities, routines and a set of goals. Make this semester, and the rest of 2017, a year to focus on you.
If you feel like me, grateful for 2016 and how it has helped you grow, yet still wanting to evolve and work on yourself, then let me provide you with tips on how to create a better you in 2017!
Acceptance
Whether it is with the past or with someone or something, acceptance is key to moving forward. The past is in the past for a reason. You wouldn’t be the person you are today without your past, good or bad. Everything truly does happen for a reason and it is important to take your past, learn from it and grow. Make peace with your past and let go of grudges because they won’t help your self-growth. Even though you want to feel regretful about a situation that happened, you shouldn’t. Accept what happened, learn from it and carry on.
Love
Don’t worry about him/her; if it’s meant to be your paths will cross or maybe they won’t because there is someone way better out there for you. Instead, work on loving yourself. This is something so easy to say, yet so difficult to do. Loving yourself, accepting yourself and feeling confident with yourself is a journey, not a destination. If you do not fully love yourself, then stop right now and make 2017 the year to do so. Whether you create a mantra for yourself to repeat every morning or look in the mirror and name five things you love about yourself that aren’t physical qualities, the more you practice these habits of self-love, the more you will begin to truly believe that you are, in fact, an amazing person. This is probably the biggest factor to focus on this year in order to better yourself. Loving yourself is so important.
Positive Mindset
Growing up my mother would always tell me “thoughts become things.” She’s right, as any mother would be, but it’s something so true. In a book I’m currently reading, the author, Caroline Myss, says that your “biography becomes your biology”, meaning that everything you think, positive or negative, has some kind of effect on your body; the more positive thoughts you have, the better your physical and mental health will be, but the more negative thoughts you have, your physical and/or mental health may worsen. A positive mindset is key to staying focused, driven and optimistic. Put out good energy and see how much you get back in return. Your thoughts are so powerful and until you start thinking optimistically, your life won’t change too much.
Improve Your Health
Eating healthy will not only aid in weight loss, if that is your goal, but, overall, it will make you feel better. Drink more water, try to walk or exercise for at least 30 minutes, drink green tea, eat more vegetables, but whatever it takes make healthier decisions. You don’t have to try that new diet to stay healthy, and I can’t emphasize this enough! Just follow the basic rules: more vegetables and fruits, more protein and keep drinking water! It is all about balance. Keep everything in moderation. This is your body, your temple, take care of it. It is yours forever and taking care of your health is so important to feeling good about yourself.
As cliché and some of this may sound, it is honestly all so very true. It’s something we hear constantly because it is easier said than done.
In the wise words of Paulo Coelho, “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better, too.” Make 2017 and this semester a period of self-growth. Let go of negativity, that need of approval from others and start making things happen! Make it a great year because the choice is yours.