Add Something Good to Your New Year

Thou no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

~ Marcus Aurelius

Every moment of our lives is a new beginning. But it isn’t always easy to keep this simple fact in mind. As such, most of us cherish the symbolism we find in monumental opportunities to “start fresh.” The arrival of a new year is just such an occasion.

I believe positive thinking is constructive thinking. When we are focusing on the positive, we are always constructing something. When we focus on the negative, we are usually tearing something apart. With the reflection that comes at the end of each year, it can be easy for us to focus on what we believe is “wrong” with us or our lives and to resolve to get rid of it in the coming year. Maybe, we want to lose 10 pounds. Perhaps, we want to quit smoking. Maybe, we want to get out of debt.

Changing the less desirable aspects of our life experiences is always a worthy goal. And change is always within our power. The way we look at what it is that needs to be changed is, however, extremely important. Remember the saying, where the mind goes, the energy flows. If we focus our attention on how much we hate being overweight and we criticize ourselves repeatedly for not being more fit, the energy of our thoughts is poured into that disdain for ourselves and our bodies. And it is destructive – for our self-esteem, for our ability to see food as good and nourishing, and for our overall state of mind. These thought patterns are unpleasant, and they never result in lasting changes. For most, time and repeated experience have established as much. And these same principles and concepts apply to all areas of our life experiences.

This year, 2014, holds great potential for all of us. If you would like to take advantage of this opportunity to make resolutions for the new year, I’d like to encourage you to focus your attention on something good you want to add to your experience of Life. Set your focus and intentions on increase, positive change, delightful developments, and all else that is constructive. After all, you really have nothing to lose by adding something good to your life this year.

If you like the idea and you’re on board with giving it a try, I’d suggest that you even consider adding something good for your mind, something good for your body, and something good for your spirit. There are many possibilities out there. Below, I’ve made some suggestions you might consider. These are ideas and products I believe in and feel comfortable recommending. But they are suggestions only. The point of this post is to encourage you to find and to add something that seems good to you to your life this year.

SOMETHING GOOD

Recommendations

Mind/Brain

This year, you might try adding books and tapes that stimulate your mind and introduce you to new perspectives. You might also try learning new techniques for rewiring and retraining your brain.

Affirmations – If you are serious about changing your thought patterns, it will take some practice. Our brains love to follow old ways of thinking and habits because it requires less energy to do so. By using affirmations that are meaningful to us, we create new neural pathways and establish new neuronal connections. Repetition is the most effective way to change thought patterns.

When it comes to affirmations, Author, Louise Hay, is the reigning queen. She’s a loving soul and an incredibly wise teacher. She has a gentle voice, both in writing and on tape. I recommend Louise’s tape 101 Power Thoughts, which you can sample and/or buy here.

Perspectives – If you are looking for an encouraging and helpful guide to healing, happiness, and self-realization, I recommend you check out my book, Taming The Invisible Dragon. My book includes a wide range of insights and information about the power of mind and changing negative thought patterns.

(As you can see, I’ve now moved past my issues with promoting my own work. And I’d like to add many more satisfied readers to my life experience this year).

Body

This year, you may consider adding more wholesome and nourishing foods to your diet. Today, it’s easier than ever to find good, healthy foods that taste delicious. Your body is the temple of your soul. By feeding your body more nourishing foods, you honor it and give it the tools it needs to function properly. Plus, feeling great about how you’re treating your body will increase your self-confidence in significant ways.

Last year, I began drinking protein shakes in the morning and, occasionally, during the afternoon. A few months ago, a friend sent me a sample tub of his company’s super food shake PRIME Protein. As the company says, “Prime Protein is a 100% natural plant based superfood that delivers the essential amino acids, omegas & proteins your body deserves on a daily basis.” It is chocolate flavored, which is outstanding!

I’ve enjoyed the PRIME shakes very much, and I have noticed an increase in my energy levels. Also, it feels good to know I’m giving my body the vitamins, minerals, and protein it needs for my healing process. If you’re dealing with health issues too, I believe you’ll find that drinking PRIME shakes can be an excellent addition to your healing health regime. If you’re already fit as a fiddle, I believe PRIME Protein can help you stay that way. You can learn more about this super food shake here.

Spirit

It is always a good time to add more focus and attention to developing your spiritual path. There are many different ways to go about it. I have found periods of meditation extremely useful. There are many different kinds of meditations and many different ways to focus meditative attention. When meditating, it is beneficial to arrange a soothing environment. For me, soft music and candle light creates an atmosphere that is very calming and conducive to relaxation, which is essential to any meditative practice. You might consider adding 15-20 minutes of meditation to your daily routine this year (either in the early morning hours or in the late evening). Meditation for Beginners, by Jack Kornfield, offers a great introduction to meditation.

I listen to a wide variety of CDs when I’m meditating. New Earth Records has a great collection of soul soothing music. I have one of their sample CDs, and I’ve listened to it well over 100 times in the last few years.

If you’d prefer soothing and peaceful music that isn’t quite as “new age,” I highly recommend that you try one of my friend, Richard Maddock’s CDs. He’s a classical pianist and composer. His music is incredibly beautiful. You can find Richard’s CDs and downloads here.

If meditation does not interest you, you can always set aside 15-20 minutes a day to just relax and restore. If you can slow your thoughts and calm your mind by sitting on the back patio, staring at the sky, do it. Your spirit is with you, every second of the day. Re-establishing your sense of connection with your spirit can be much easier than you might have believed. But you will need to find ways to calm the buzz and chatter of your mind to make way for this sense of connection.

If you have any suggestions for something good we can add to our New Year, please leave a comment below. After all, we are all in this together. And I’d love to hear your thoughts on how you plan to make 2014 a Good Year!

Live Free! Be Happy! Have a magnificent New Year!

Love & Light,

Sloan

© 12/31/2013

All rights reserved.

2014 photo by Dez Pain

Posted by Sloan Rawlins on December 31, 2013

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