New Year, New Me?

 The time has come for us all to begin reflecting on 2016 and decide what it is we want to change moving into 2017. Maybe in 2017 you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe gain 10 pounds. Maybe you are manifesting your dream job. Maybe you are determined to find your soul mate. Maybe you just want to be a better you. All of those are amazing changes that you can and will make in the new year...if you put in the work. Here me now. At the end of each year, we do all of the reflecting and judging and deciding what needs to be done but we rarely, if ever, start putting in the work to make those changes happen before 2017 begins. Often times we wait until January 1st or sometime there after to put our words into action. But this year, I am opening a gateway for you that you've probably never walked through. I am suggesting that you start your journey of 2017, right now.

By this I mean, start practicing what you preach. Start writing down your to do list now. Start aligning your energy with the energy you want to attract. Start your business plan. Start transitioning into your new diet. Start transitioning into your new way of life. Start to become a better you by changing your outlook on life. By preparing your mind and body now, you are telling/showing The Universe that you truly want and deserve a better life.

With that being said, I want to share how I have been preparing myself for the new year. But first, I must inform you that my new year's resolution is to follow my spiritual path.

I believe that in order to live a full and purposeful life here on Earth, we all must maintain a high frequency which allows us to be closer to The Universe. I know many of you are like "oh lord, here goes another one of those spiritual knowitalls". But no, let me stop you there. I am not at all an expert or an advocate for spiritual knowledge. However, I will always be genuine and share my thoughts on things that I believe in thanks to my experiences here on Earth.

With all that is going on in this world, I needed a sign/reason/purpose to continue life. I felt like there was nothing but negativity for me here and to continue my life in that state of mind was suicidal. So I began looking within to figure out where my happiness was hidden. Eventually, I found light in my dark space and that light was my spirit, my powerful inner voice, my true self before my subconscious beliefs and societal influences took over. And the awareness of this, made me happier than everything I experienced before.

There were many things that helped me become more aware of my true purpose--friends, family, public figures, books, blogs, etc. However, the one book that made this spiritual crap easy to understand was "You are a Baddass..." This is by far the best "self-help" book I have read to date. Aside from being brutally honest, this book shares straight up facts about how we have the power to create and recreate our lives each day.

By the end of this book, you will know exactly what you need to do (now) to make your new year's resolution a reality. For me, I found out that I had to remove all of the negativity from my life including people, things, ideas and beliefs. I also found out that I had to part ways from the past and lay the what-ifs to bed. I am definitely one to hold on to the past and I am also one to think thoroughly about the future. This was not going to help me get to a better space. These thoughts were only going to make the journey 100 times harder, so I needed to rid of these thoughts.

These are just some of the things I have become of aware of. I still have so much more to learn and to accept. But, each day I am making sure that my self-talk is positive, that my mind is always focused on the now and that I am not letting negative energy into my sacred space.

With that being said, here are some of the physical ways I am making sure these bad "habits" have room to change:

1. Mediating Daily (or as often as I can)
I am sure you all  have heard many times that meditation is something we need to do in order to become more mindful in our lives. This is true. If you want to get to a better space in your life, you must take the time to get to know your higher self/power because that is the only person who will get you to that better space. And right now, you are not aware of your true power so you are holding yourself back. Meditation will help you get to know your true power and also help you utilize that power throughout life. Mediation for me looks like sitting on the floor in quietness with a few candles. I like to focus on my breathing. Being aware of the breath as it enters into my body and as it leaves my body. In doing this, I always take time to show appreciation for myself. It makes me feel good, declutters my mind and makes me more aware of my capabilities.

2. Speaking Affirmations Aloud
I have found that by speaking affirmations to my self daily, I have become more aware of what I deserve and receive in life. It helps with gratitude, fearlessness, selflessness and self-love. And the more you say them, the more you start to believe them.

3. Yoga (beginners level)
I have always hated working out but every time I did, I felt amazing. So when I brought yoga into my life it became a happy medium. I am able to get a bomb workout in, I am relaxing my mind and focusing on the now, while also trusting in myself. All of which have helped me throughout my spiritual journey.

4. Practicing Self-Care
If you've been here a while, you know how much I talk about self-care and self-love. Well, I will never stop talking about it because it is SO important. This society will try its hardest to make you hate your skin, hair, nails, body, etc. But by practicing self-care and providing yourself with love daily, you are giving society the middle finger. You are saying to yourself and The Universe that I am aware that I was put here/created for a reason.

Please note, that there is no right or wrong way to provide yourself with care and love. Do whatever makes you happy. Read a book for 1 hr, take a bubble bath, listen to music in your room, go shopping, have a girl's day. quiet your mind, etc. Whatever you feel like you need, you give to yourself.

The key in all of this is you. You have made the decision to change something in your life in 2017. Now, you need to begin affirming that you deserve this change by proactively doing what needs to be done to reach the goal. Your goal may be different from mines but our mindsets must be the same if we want to live a better more fulfilling life.

I wish you peace, love, happiness and strength as you recreate your life in 2017. The journey will not be easy but it will be worth it.

Never give up my love.