I just spent some time looking over the resolutions I made in 2012...that I don't at all remember making. It was fun to look back at those, as I literally had not seen them since last January and see how the year turned out compared to what I had resolved to do.
I think we must become more intentional about things simply by writing them down. In 2012, my overall goal was "freedom and detachment" and while I can't say that I fully detached myself from the consumerism and social norms of this world, in some areas I gave it a valiant effort, and I certainly explored the definition of freedom throughout the year, even on this blog. I definitely have a better sense of the meaning of freedom and how I can individually feel freedom and how we as a community can experience freedom.
While I will certainly continue to be intentional about freedom and detachment, particularly from material things, I want to set my resolutions this year to revolve around peace. This, of course, can mean peace in the community and around the world, which I certainly hope and pray for, but I understand very little about what can be done to create peace in this larger arena (but hope to learn more!). Besides learning more about peace and engaging in peaceful and non-violent relationships and service with others, I believe inner-peace is an avenue to communal and global peace. The more love, contentment, and care that an individual feels, the more he/she will be able to spread that feeling and love and care for others. I have listed a few ways below that I can experience inner peace:
1) Forest bathing. It's very real and relieves stress, tension, anxiety with small amounts of time spent in nature. I love the idea of getting out doors more and hiking more, and this seems like a very real way to experience less stress and more peace in my life.
2) Turn off the social media. Seriously, these are bad habits and they lead to nasty feelings like jealousy, consumerism, and ugly conflicts and bullying. People feel they can be ruder using social media, and all that constant information is de-sensitizing. Take a break! I'll try to limit myself to only certain times when I can look at my social media sites. To start, I'm taking a facebook cleanse, to attempt to break my nasty facebook habit. Come to think of it, spending less time on the computer at all will reduce anxiety and greed.
3) Journaling. A classic. It's easy to fall out of the routine, but it is so helpful and stress reducing. Plus, it's a great artifact later.
4) Yoga, breathing, meditation. Stop all the doing and just be content with yourself. Attend yoga, read a reflection and meditate on it, just take deep breaths. Doing these things for me will help me stay sane and less frazzled.
5) Be at peace with myself. I'll attempt to live in the moment, do the best at whatever I'm currently doing, even if I don't like it (cough cough). I know I'll feel more inner peace and contentment if I'm doing my best. When you're living in the moment, you're more aware of the things that are working and the things that are not, and once you are aware, you can work to fix them. Peace with being present is essential.
Resolutions can be fun, and they are a way to be intentional about life...if you can remember them! Don't overwhelm yourself with too many, and don't attempt to "change" yourself...just to let go of the things holding you back until the true you is revealed. At our core, we are beings of peace, freedom, and light.
Happy 2013 to all! Wishing you a year of happiness, peace, and growth.
--Megan
I think we must become more intentional about things simply by writing them down. In 2012, my overall goal was "freedom and detachment" and while I can't say that I fully detached myself from the consumerism and social norms of this world, in some areas I gave it a valiant effort, and I certainly explored the definition of freedom throughout the year, even on this blog. I definitely have a better sense of the meaning of freedom and how I can individually feel freedom and how we as a community can experience freedom.
While I will certainly continue to be intentional about freedom and detachment, particularly from material things, I want to set my resolutions this year to revolve around peace. This, of course, can mean peace in the community and around the world, which I certainly hope and pray for, but I understand very little about what can be done to create peace in this larger arena (but hope to learn more!). Besides learning more about peace and engaging in peaceful and non-violent relationships and service with others, I believe inner-peace is an avenue to communal and global peace. The more love, contentment, and care that an individual feels, the more he/she will be able to spread that feeling and love and care for others. I have listed a few ways below that I can experience inner peace:
1) Forest bathing. It's very real and relieves stress, tension, anxiety with small amounts of time spent in nature. I love the idea of getting out doors more and hiking more, and this seems like a very real way to experience less stress and more peace in my life.
2) Turn off the social media. Seriously, these are bad habits and they lead to nasty feelings like jealousy, consumerism, and ugly conflicts and bullying. People feel they can be ruder using social media, and all that constant information is de-sensitizing. Take a break! I'll try to limit myself to only certain times when I can look at my social media sites. To start, I'm taking a facebook cleanse, to attempt to break my nasty facebook habit. Come to think of it, spending less time on the computer at all will reduce anxiety and greed.
3) Journaling. A classic. It's easy to fall out of the routine, but it is so helpful and stress reducing. Plus, it's a great artifact later.
4) Yoga, breathing, meditation. Stop all the doing and just be content with yourself. Attend yoga, read a reflection and meditate on it, just take deep breaths. Doing these things for me will help me stay sane and less frazzled.
5) Be at peace with myself. I'll attempt to live in the moment, do the best at whatever I'm currently doing, even if I don't like it (cough cough). I know I'll feel more inner peace and contentment if I'm doing my best. When you're living in the moment, you're more aware of the things that are working and the things that are not, and once you are aware, you can work to fix them. Peace with being present is essential.
Resolutions can be fun, and they are a way to be intentional about life...if you can remember them! Don't overwhelm yourself with too many, and don't attempt to "change" yourself...just to let go of the things holding you back until the true you is revealed. At our core, we are beings of peace, freedom, and light.
Happy 2013 to all! Wishing you a year of happiness, peace, and growth.
--Megan
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