It’s a new year and that means new opportunities for change and growth! 2023 gives us a renewed chance to work toward self-improvement. But this doesn’t happen by osmosis. Instead, it takes a little bit of thought, effort, and planning. It takes Intentionality.
Like so many I’ve spoken with, I spent a lot of last year shaking off post-Covid anxieties, as well as wrestling to overcome some bad habits I’d fallen into. The long-reaching effects of the pandemic on our psyches will continue to be explored and understood. If you’re reading this, then you survived; but not without having your life fundamentally touched and altered in some way. In the last few years, Death came far too close to us in a highly personal way. But this collective brush with mortality also invites us to grab the Life we have with new gusto! Here are some bite-sized suggestions that will help you do just that:
1. Volunteer – help someone or something less fortunate than you, and in doing so, expand your heart and your view.
2. Find Your Tribe – Connect with others who have the same interests. Try online websites like Meetup.com or check around your neighborhood or faith community. If you can’t find a group that you’re interested in, then start one!
3. Get Outside – even if it’s for a walk around the block. There’s something about being out in nature that boosts our mood, helps us destress, and process our emotions better.
4. Travel – Make room in your budget and your calendar for a change of scenery. If you can’t afford bigger trips, then do day trips, overnights or weekends away.
5. Spend Time with People You Value – Cherish and nurture the relationships that encourage and challenge you to be a better version of yourself.
6. Try One New Thing – Whether it be a new book, a new experience or a new recipe- stretch yourself and try something out of your comfort zone.
7. Make the Decision to Finally Address with Your Therapist . . . that buried trauma, destructive behavior, toxic relationship, hidden shame, or annoying habit. We’re here to help you, and don’t forget: the more you’re able to put into therapy, the more you’ll get out of it!
Wishing you a rich, exciting, fulfilling year of growth!
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