Friday, December 26, 2014

Reflections for the New Year

It's hard to believe that 2014 is nearly over. One of the things I have really struggled with this year was finding peace in the midst of stress and difficult moments. It is through my relaxation and yoga practice that I am learning to really cultivate a sense of "calm amidst the storm".

My desire for 2015 is that I will continue to develop the ability to find peace when things are chaotic around me. I know that this year is going to bring some very difficult and challenging moments with facing another time of separation from my husband, starting a new placement within my job, starting post graduate study which I have to travel long distances for, and then eventually organising our big move at the end of the year. This year is going to bring a lot of challenges (and those are just the ones that I already know about and can mentally prepare for!) Knowing in advance that there will be many challenges to face gives me the advantage of being able to set some healthy coping mechanisms in place....Of which my best means of coping is going to be establishing a really strong pattern for my yoga practice - even if that means only 15 minutes a day. Getting into the routine of daily practice means that I will take at least 15 minutes a day solely to focus on relaxation and grounding.

So that is my first New Year's Resolution - to devote a few minutes every day to yoga

Secondly, as my mantra for the year - I Am Here - I want to ensure that during my yoga practice I am really focusing my energy on grounding. On remembering that even if all else around me feels chaotic and difficult in that moment, I am still here...I am still me....I am still alive and well, and present in this moment. 

The third focus for me this coming year is continuing on my journey towards healthier eating habits. I have started seeing tremendous improvements with my health and my thyroid levels are starting to improve, so it is definitely worth the effort. I struggled this Christmas with making poor food choices and too much sugar over the past week, but I am determined to get back on track and really focus my energy on foods that actually improve my health. 

My biggest fitness goal this year is to keep working towards increasing my running fitness level. I would ideally love to be back running comfortably where it's really enjoyable. Long-term goals for that would be to be running about a 10K by this time next year. 

Those are just some of my goals for the coming year, what are yours? Have you taken the time to reflect on what you would like to achieve for 2015? Have a think about how you will cope with the challenges you might face BEFORE you face them.....Think about what lifestyle changes you might need to make in order to support healthy coping. Think about ways you can increase your fitness and improve your health. 

"If I only get today, I want to make today count. If I only get today, I want those around me to know that I loved them and for those who cross my path to know that they matter. If I only get today, I want to finish it well" ~ Namaste