By Michelle Porchia Happy New Year!
I don't need to rehash 2020. We all know what has gone on all too well. I know many are glad it is behind us. Hindsight truly is 2020. I know many people couldn't wait for 2020 to be over and they were looking forward to 2021 ushering in a different scenario. I encourage you to ease into 2021. Breathe and take it a step at a time. My wish is that 2021 brings you good health, joy, peace and abundance in all ways. In the past I have suggested, rather than putting pressure on yourself to set resolutions, to instead set a word with the intention of living out its meaning. I'm reminded of a song from "The Wiz" called "Ease on Down the Road." Come on and Ease on down, ease on down the road Come on, ease on down Ease on down the road Don't you carry nothing That might be a load Come on, ease on down Ease on down the road Here are some overall skills that will help you enter 2021 in a good space or at least more calmly. First, INHALE/EXHALE. Secondly, be still. Third, reflect. Breathing helps us to center our thoughts, our bodies, our minds. Breathing helps us to be still. You may say, "I've been home and still for 10 months." The stillness I am speaking of is centering yourself...mindfulness so-to-speak, calming your mind. Many have so much going on and they feel like they are being pulled in so many different directions at the same time. You've seen me suggest many times to your thoughts, and once again I encourage you to journal. It helps you to be still and get your thoughts gathered and focused. It also helps to get some of the thoughts out of your head. Reflect on what 2020 meant to you. What will you take with you and what will you leave behind? What did you learn? Don't beat up on yourself. Simply listen as you reflect and assess and then decide "now what?" The "good" I've heard people say they've learned and appreciated during 2020: Family spending more time together Family doing more fun things together Learning new skills Getting around to hobbies Trying new recipes Finally purging my home Redecorating Appreciating things I have taken for granted Getting the pet I/we have wanted My suggestions for 2021: Set an intention. Normally people set resolutions for the New Year and what happens is we set ourselves up for stress and pressure to achieve the goals. The past two years I have switched to setting an intention. My intention in 2020 was ACCEPTANCE. My encouragement was the first line of the Serenity Prayer: "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..." My song (which may seem like a strange choice) was The Climb by Miley Cyrus. How applicable. This year my word is FOCUS. I've just chosen it. It was difficult to choose a word this year. I haven't chosen my encouragement or my song yet. Let go. Try not to bring things from 2020 that don't serve you. I've mentioned before about clearing clutter. Mental clutter. Physical clutter. Emotional clutter. Get help if necessary. Take care of your mental health. Take care of your physical health. During these times, people could use that coat, coffee maker, DVR that you haven't used in years. Donate them to the church store or other organizations. I'm part of a group on Facebook that is in my town where everything is free...no selling allowed. You post a picture of items you don't want; people ask to have it and then they come and pick it up from your porch. People can also post that they are looking for particular items. It has helped me purge items, especially when the donation centers were closed. Bottom line, take it slow. Be kind to yourself and others. Look for the good. I wish you a happy, healthy and peaceful 2021.
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By Michelle Porchia I hope 2017 was all you wanted and more. It certainly was an "interesting" year. The weather has been breaking all kinds of records. Those of you in the path of the arctic blast, I hope you are keeping warm and safe. Please reach out and check on neighbors, friends and family, and also be on the lookout for homeless people and animals in this cold weather.
As I mentioned above, 2017 was an "interesting" year. I noticed several situations that caused people to be annoyed, disturbed or downright angry. Some would say these situations were nothing to be so upset about. I think since so many are experiencing heightened emotions, going into a new year is a good time to reevaluate our interactions on a daily basis. Let's revisit some areas we know, yet may have forgotten or gotten away from. The Three C's: Courtesy:
Compassion:
Caring:
As we leave 2017 and walk gently into 2018, let us take time to reflect.
Relax and ease into 2018. If you need help filling your tool belt, please let me know. By Michelle Porchia Now that the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, visiting, stressing, over-eating is over --what do you do with yourself? Are you a person who makes New Year’s resolutions or sets goals that are rarely fulfilled? Do you have high hopes for a better 2014? Let’s look at some overall skills that can help you with entering 2014 in a good space. First, INHALE/EXHALE. Secondly, be still. Third, reflect. It is important that you breathe. Inhale peace and exhale stress. We tend to breathe shallow and breathing is life to our body. So take time to breathe fully and completely We are told to “be still.” You’ve heard me say this before. We’ve become human doers and we were created as human beings. We need to learn to simply BE. Yet we feel living is about being in constant motion. Not so. Try this exercise: turn out the lights, light a candle or use a battery-operated candle and just be still. Focus on the flame. Listen to your inner voice. Try this for at least 5 minutes. Reflect. Try journaling your thoughts. How was 2013 for you? What went well and would you have liked to have done differently? Did you spend time with the people who are important to you – including YOU? Did you spend your time when and where you wanted? This is also where you can address the questions above. Don’t beat up on yourself. Simply listen as you reflect and then decide “now what”? My suggestions for 2014: · Set SMART goals. (Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Realistic and Timed). Goals are usually personal, professional, spiritual, etc. Whatever is important to you and usually not all in one area. Write them down. Break the goals down into small pieces and then make them part of your daily action list. Example: Rather than saying, “I want to lose weight”. A more realistic goal is I want to live healthy. I will: work out 3-5 days a week. I will drink at least 6 glasses of water a day, eat 2-3 vegetables a day (corn is not a vegetable), and eat 1-2 fruits a day. I will go to bed at a reasonable time (set the time and your alarm – yes to go to bed). I will spend at least 15 minutes a day being still. Clear out clutter. Mental clutter. Physical clutter. Emotional clutter. Get help. It’s hard to receive if you are full. The season may be up for some relationships, for some of our “stuff”. During these times, people could use that coat, suit, coffee maker that you haven’t used in years. Donate them to the church store or other organizations. Do a swap. Here’s to a happy, healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2014. Your Comments Are Welcome |
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