Here are my thoughts on 7 things to embrace in 2023…this may be a longer read but it’s worth the read.
Gratitude There has been a wealth of research into the benefits of gratitude as a practice. But did you know there are 3 subcategories? Affective trait – your tendency to have a grateful disposition Mood – daily fluctuations in gratitude Emotion – eg. spikes of gratitude when receiving a gift
Improving your affective trait of gratitude has the greatest impact and can improve mental, emotional, and physical health as well as improve connection, relationships, and a sense of well-being. Well worth embracing, wouldn’t you agree?
Self Trust This is a BIG one for most people. In fact, around 80% of my clients report not having trust in themselves. When we don’t trust ourselves, not only do we not back ourselves and take risks but we are also prone to subordinate to outside authorities. It’s easier to be controlled and manipulated…and you certainly won’t live according to your own unique hierarchy of values. Self-trust is a must!
Intentional thinking Being intentional with your thoughts can create such significant shifts in your life. It’s estimated we have up to 60,000 thoughts a day, and of those over 80% are negative and 95% are the same as the day before! So if we don’t consciously change how we think the likelihood of ever-changing our emotions, behaviors, and outcomes are…you guessed it, almost zero. Your thoughts matter!
Curiosity Think about a very young child for a moment. Their development is stimulated by their innate sense of curiosity as they explore the world around them. Somewhere along the line that innocent sense of curiosity wanes or disappears completely and our growth can stall. Curiosity is a catalyst for growth – in all areas of life. Imagine what might be possible if you embraced curiosity!
Forgiveness It’s not just a word, as in, “I forgive you”, and I don’t often talk about it because when you do the MUCH deeper work you discover that there is nothing to forgive. I know that’s a huge statement…I’m not here to teach on that right now. Right now I want to say that there IS a place for forgiveness especially when you are at the beginning of your journey with healing and self-development. Or at the beginning of leaning into some of those core wounds that you’ve been carrying around for a long time. Forgiveness has the power to move you out of a state of bitterness and resentment IF (and here’s the kicker) you truly allow your heart to be open and allow a state of forgiveness to enter. And the most important person to forgive is yourself!
Your uniqueness To quote Dr Suess, “Today you are YOU, that is truer than true. There is NO ONE alive more youer than YOU!” He says it all really. You are a one-off. You will not repeat again…ever! Think about that for a moment. So comparing yourself to Tim, Sally or Jenny is pointless. Because you are you, and they are them. You’re here NOW to BE the complete complement of yourself. When you truly embrace that, your magnificence will shine through and you, your life and everything in it will expand in ways that are currently beyond your imagination – but not beyond your potential. Embrace you, all of you!
Challenge Yes, I want to encourage you to embrace challenge. Most people want to avoid challenges – and to be honest, we are hard-wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure. BUT, there is a form of challenge that is highly beneficial for us and helps us to grow and to lead a more fulfilling and rewarding life. And that is to embrace challenges that are in the areas of your highest values. When you do this you activate greater levels of energy, certainty, focus, and consistency. You feel more inspired and you increase the potential to achieve your desired outcomes. Optimal growth occurs at the border of challenge and support – so it’s wise to not seek a one-sided life. Lean into challenges that inspire you.
I trust my ideas have stimulated your thoughts…and piqued your curiosity enough for you to consider how you can embrace some or all of these expansions and transformations in 2023.
I’d love to hear what you will choose to embrace this year – even if it’s not one of my suggestions. I certainly don’t classify myself as a guru or the font of all knowledge.
And if you are keen to gain a head start with the inner game of success in 2023 our It's Your Year book is a key component to help you get there.