New Year, Same You
Photo by Alex Perez on Unsplash
DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical or mental health professional. Everything I share is information gained through personal experience, professional help, and outside resources. It is your own personal responsibility to seek professional help and advice before implementing any life-altering practices. Everyone's mental health journey looks different. My story is just one of millions. If you are feeling lost, scared, alone, concerned, or just not right, I encourage you to connect with a mental health professional. Don't wait until it becomes a crisis.
It’s a new year. 2021 has turned into 2022. That means one thing:
NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!
*snort*
Yeah, um, no. Just because a number on the calendar has changed, it doesn't mean we need to disrupt our journey, start over, shift our focus, or challenge ourselves with new habits.
It’s more than ok for January to be just another month in the year, another turn of a page.
As much as it goes against my typical approach to the new year, I’ve really needed to lean into this mindset for 2022. We’ve had so much going on here in the Peluszak household, not to mention needing to more carefully manage my mental health during these coming winter months.
The thought of slamming the breaks on what I’ve accomplished, the momentum I had going, and where my focus was aimed just because we entered a new year made absolutely no sense.
Instead, I kept the status quo with one exception: yoga.
WORD OF THE NEW YEAR
In the past few years, I’ve selected a word or phrase, like many do, to guide the focus and set intention for the next 12 months. This year, I briefly considered it, but didn’t put any extra effort or time into the practice. Honestly, I had spent the end of the year carefully avoiding burnout so this idealistic activity wasn’t on my to-do list.
But as I went about my day-to-day, I repeatedly considered how hard I am on myself and how I daily shake my head at something I’ve done. Then, it suddenly hit me like a lightening bolt…
“Make yourself proud.”
It came from the thought process that if I stop trying to curate the impression and image others have of me, and focus on actions that make ME think highly of myself, I know I’ll find myself on the path to self-confidence and self-trust.
IMPACT IN THE NEW YEAR
I’ve already seen the impact of this phrase in my daily life.
Something I’ve always struggled with is exercise and sticking with a daily movement practice. But in this season, something clicked.
I saw Adriene from Yoga with Adriene announce her next 30 Day Yoga Journey. I knew this was an area where I could “make myself proud” - sticking with something on a daily basis, without excuse, but also remembering to give myself grace in my current life circumstances.
I’m excited to report, at the time of writing, I’ve completed everyday so far of this set journey! I am so freakin’ proud of myself, as I should be! Along the way, I’ve battled excuses, morning alarms, and mental illness. But each day, I can feel the practice shifting from obligation and chore to welcome habit. I can feel the effects of having something to look forward to, and the grounding that comes from forming a routine, even in the midst of chaos.
Did I set out to start habits, make changes, and shake things up to kick off a new year? No, not at all.
Did my journey bring me to this moment, in perfect timing, when I was ready to make this change, and it just so happened to be in January 2022? “Yes. Yes, it did.” (IYKYK 😉)
NEW IS UNIQUE TO YOU
Being on a journey to mental wellness and better self-care means being on our own path, in our own time, making our own progress. It means turning away from the fast-paced, push-harder culture, and embracing what you’ve discovered is best for you.
Happy new year, friends. Let's live a year full of rest, wellness, and progress… in our own unique way.
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