You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

Deciding to make positive changes

At the start of every year, many of us find ourselves wondering how to keep the New Year’s resolutions we’ve set for ourselves. It’s well-known that the gym crowds surge in January, only to thin out again by mid-February. Sometimes, it almost seems like resolutions are just meant to be broken. But resolutions are good, productive ways to set goals and intentions for the new year. Deciding to make positive changes or adopting a healthier habit is always a good idea and one you should see through to the end.

Ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said,

Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.

The power of positivity

You can change your destiny: achieving New Year’s resolutions isn’t always an easy feat, but here are a few ways you can incorporate the power of the positive into your life today:

1. Visualise: Visualisation is a powerful tool for bringing an idea or desire into reality. You can mentally picture the future you seek or bring it into the physical realm by drawing it out (artistic skill not required). Or create a vision board for your goals to keep you inspired and motivated.

2. Keep a gratitude journal: Given that like attracts like, intentionally focusing on the things you’re grateful for can invite more abundance into your life.

3. Speak it into existence: Another way to bring your desires out of your head and into the physical reality is to voice them out loud. Wake up and declare out loud to the universe, ‘I would like X’

4. Watch for synchronicities: Synchronicities are those meaningful ‘coincidences’ that seem slightly miraculous. If synchronicities related to your goal keep coming up (back to the marathon example, maybe your bib number keeps popping up on signs or billboards), it’s probably a sign that you’re on the right track.

5. Reframe a scarcity mindset: When we’re seeking something we don’t yet have, it’s easy to get caught in a cycle of scarcity and lack. But focusing on your lack of love, lack of money, lack of happiness, etc., only reinforces that lack. Remember to feel as if you’re already where you want to be.

We asked the team at Mind Of My Own what their personal goals are for 2022, here is what they shared:

Complete Great North 1 mile Swim at Windermere in the Lake District
Committing to read at least 4 pages a day of any book I’m reading
Make sure that I get outdoors more and make time for hobbies as I love it as it always falls to the bottom of the priority pile!
My goal this year is to make sure I find more time for my hobbies and things I enjoy
I am running 100 miles in January as I like to be fighting fit by the end of it.

Whatever you’d like to see, do, learn, watch, make or visit, write it down and then as the year progresses see how many you can tick off your list. Create an end of year reflection and visioning ritual. Commit to letting go of thoughts, beliefs and behaviours that have previously held you back and celebrate the positive. 

When you arrive at 31st December 2022, you might be surprised by how much you have achieved however small or insignificant you think it may seem, each step is leading you towards the path you create for yourself. In the words of award-winning science writer, David Robson, 

Any journey worth pursuing will include a few bumps along the way – but by understanding the psychology of personal change, you can vastly increase your chances of reaching the goal.

From all of us at Mind Of My Own, have a positive, mindful 2022!

This post from last year offered up two free resources for all workers in our community, do give them a try. Also, you can help children and young people with positive thinking by using our free resource, the Mindfulness Project.