Every January I pull out my brand-new journal and I start a list of this year’s resolutions.

Some of them get carried over from last year’s list, unfortunately (like: lose at least ten pounds). 

Some of them are new and daring. Some, completely unrealistic – but somehow they make the list.

This year I decided to give the list a makeover. Shake things up a little. Why not? All these past years the resolutions were forgotten and neglected sometime around March. Just to be partially resurrected next January. How’s that for a productive and successful year?

I believe that you must have a plan for your new year. There have to be some goals to be attained, some milestones achieved, some deadlines met. If you don’t know where you are going, how will you know when you got there?

So first I decided to choose a word that will symbolize this year for me. I usually have so many plans and goals and desires, I want to do so many things, that, eventually, I get lost and do not complete the majority of them.

After long deliberations that took almost the whole January (!!!) I decided on my word.

CLARITY

I want clarity this year. I need to be clear on what I really want from life. Who do I want to become to have what I want. What questions do I need to ask to make this year different for myself?

The word brought me immediate peace of mind. It almost magically sent me on a journey filled with ideas, plans, and dreams. I understood that to have it all this year, I must first choose ME.

I must prioritize myself. I must practice self-love first. I need to put myself at the top of each day. I must start being important enough to eat well, sleep well and live well. 

Which brings me to self-care. I must make time for myself. My family, friends, and my job cannot come before me – no more! I am worth the daily effort of caring for this body, mind and everything else that makes me Me.

To some it might sound selfish. Self-centered. Mean.

I call it self-prioritizing. I learned a long time ago that I could not please everyone. And if I please someone, but as a result I will now be in conflict with my true self, then that definitely is not self-loving nor self-caring.

It also became clear to me that I must be consistent in my conviction and actions. I can’t just do it once a week or a few times a month. No. Each day will be focused on building Me up, nurturing Me, loving Me. And once I am consistent and the habit of self-care and self-love is grounded, then something miraculous will happen.

 I will be more efficient. I will be so fed and cared for, that I will want to spread it to others without ever again thinking: “What about ME?” 

I will be so fulfilled that helping others will be a desire, not a chore or inconvenience. I will be so accomplished in my life, that serving others will be a joyful mission, not a burden.

I also decided to be more adventurous this year and I vowed to have new experiences this year. I will write down every new thing I try this year and at the end of the year I might find myself amazed at how many new ventures I had. I settled for twenty new things as it is 2020, but if I manage to exceed it, then that’s just a bonus. You can track other ideas like: 

1.Visits 20 new restaurants.

2.Read 20 books.

3.Cook 20 new recipes in one month.

4.Eat 20 meatless dinners in one month.

5.Help 20 strangers.

I am very excited about this upcoming year! I know it will definitely be different than the past ones, because my intentions and my mindset has changed.

I changed, therefore, everything will change for me!