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How To make the Most of Your 2019

  • Writer: Ashley Hurst
    Ashley Hurst
  • Jan 5, 2019
  • 5 min read


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11:59pm on December 31. We made it! As another year comes to an end, we stand or try our best to stand with our closest friends and family. Everyone is on the edge of their seat watching the count down, rummaging through the broken glass, spilt drinks and sweaty group of partiers at the bar looking for their date or first kiss of the new year. Now I've never been one for the bar scene on New Years, don't get me wrong I have defiantly gone out in previous years I had my bar star reputation to hold up. But something about welcoming a new year with a bunch of strangers just isn't my passion anymore. Wether you are ankle deep in confetti and Moët or kicked back on the couch with you feet up, The New Year always comes with the anxiety of what will my resolution be?


I think it is only fair that I am honest here and say that every year I promise myself these elaborate resolutions that I can never really accomplish or maintain. During 2018 I spent a lot of time in a mode I like to call "self-discovery". I became undeniably confident in my passion for spiritual healing and exploration. Upon becoming unshakable in my practice and belief I realized that although I didn't stick to my diet plan this year I accomplished so much more. I learned to say no. I learned how to care for my body when it was sick and weak and nourish it back to health carefully. I understood that just because I couldn't always relate to everyone when it came to discussing my choices with avoiding modern day medicine, food groups or spiritual exploration that it is more of a challenge to see these choices my peers were making as an opportunity to grow my practice, to really sit back and try and see every situation I encounter through a place of love.

I took many days to recover from the Christmas/New Years slump but during that time I really focused on setting intentions for 2019 that were obtainable, sustainable and most importantly flexible because I am human and I know I am not going to have a perfect run though 2019 - and I know that by setting resolutions instead of intentions there is a huge space for guilt and resentment for yourself once you slip up on those resolutions & this year has NO space for those vibes. First off lets get clear what the differences are between a resolution and an intention because I am sure you have seen both words flying around the internet and in order to make plans you need to understand what it is you are planning for.


A resolution is: a firm decision to do or not to do something. Yikes even that definition printed in our dictionary seems harsh.

An Intention is: a mental state that represents a commitment to carrying out an action or actions in the future. Intention involves mental activities such as planning and forethought. Way softer, it actually seems like there is some wiggle room here to make adjustments and really be active in you lifestyle change.


I understand why my resolutions never stuck now. It is near impossible to make a choice to better yourself and make it a "firm decision". Not to mention the word resolution just seems cold and unwelcoming, as if something was wrong with you and it is time to clear that up. Intentions are great because they are an end goal to work towards, it is exactly how it sounds. You intend to do something. The key to having the BEST year for reaching your intentions is to understand a few things. First off recognizing that time was a man made creation. The concept of time, days and years were all created by humans so just because it is May 18th and you haven't done a single thing you set out for yourself to accomplish doesn't mean it should wait until next year. Every single day is a fresh start find the motivation you had on January 1st again today. Wake up as if it were the start of a new year and kick a** . Secondly when creating intentions make them an overall umbrella of well being. The way we accomplish intentions is far different from the way we would accomplish a resolution. The classic NY resolution is to get fit. This is the year I start at the gym - but did you know that to create a habit it takes 66 days of doing that activity before it really becomes second nature to yourself. 66 days - of arguing with and "forcing" yourself to get up earlier, hit the gym, put your cell phone down, eat healthier. There is so much room for failure in those days and we are so quick as humans to give up when something is hard. One day of missing the gym when you really want to become a frequent gym goer and the whole resolution is out the window we allow fear to speak and convince us into the spiral of maybe this hobby isn't for me. But if we were to choose to become a healthier person overall in 2019 as an intention it leaves space for the days we didn't make it to the gym. Maybe you actually didn't have time to go today but instead you took lunch to work over buying take out like you used to do when you were in a rush. WIN! That is a positive step forward toward becoming a healthier you in 2019.


You see, by setting intentions for yourself over a resolution it is about the little details instead of the large picture. Something I like to do is check in on my choices and make sure they align with the intentions I made for myself. But the key to being satisfied with the work you've done is to forgive the mistakes. Forgive yourself for sleeping in don't give up on becoming the early bird, it was just one morning out of 365. Tomorrow is a new day, we need to learn that it is ok to not be perfect. Be kind to yourself and listen to your body.


Below I have provided a list of intentions I have used in the past as well as some resources that really helped me love myself, appreciate everyday and wrap my mind around being the raw emotional person I am instead of trying to change her.


1. This year I intend to lead myself through everyday from a place of kindness and love.

2. This year I intend to become an healthier person physically and mentally

3. This year I intend to only speak to myself positively, providing myself with love and gratitude for what my body does to keep my living everyday.

4. This year I intend to become more clear on my path, where I am supposed to be traveling in life.

5. This year I intend to respect myself and well-being by eliminating anything or anyone who doesn't provide the nurturing, love and light I need to grow.


Some books I read in 2018 that really allowed me to put my trust into the universe

1. The Universe Has Your Back - Gabrielle Bernstein

2. Sprit Junkie - Gabrielle Bernstein

3. The Year of Yes - Shonda Rhimes

4. You Can Heal Yourself - Louise Hay


Also, I start everyday and end everyday by writing in my Five Minute Journal to practice gratitude.


Lets all celebrate that we overcame 2018. I wish all of you the absolute best 2019, I hope it is filled with love and happiness.


- Ash

 
 
 

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