A New Year, A New Chapter...

Welcome to our next chapter! Yesterday, I randomly picked the AndBreathe guideline for the month of January 2020 and it was 'Courage'. Many of you will know by now that I use 16 Guidelines in my every day life, both personally and professionally (  https://www.andbreathe123.com/16-guidelines.html ).  It will never cease to amaze me that the randomly chosen 16G card is always the 'right' one for where I am.  More about that later.

The title of this chapter is '2020'.  Each and every previous chapter has led to this point. Although we don't want to dwell in the past, we don't want to forget what has gone before either.  I for one, want to remember the lessons learned and hold close the precious memories.  In the past I have set new year's goals, targets and aspirations, berating myself for not achieving the previous year's 'resolutions' and proceeding to do the same again in a repetitive cycle! It began to feel like a negative process, setting myself up to fail every year. There was also a feeling of turning my back on the previous year and starting afresh, a feeling of wanting to dismiss the blunders along the way! In my life, I have been a very focused, driven person, always wanting to do better, go that one step further. I was never 'good enough'.

However, over many years, but especially the last few years, I have grown to realise that maybe I am 'good enough', maybe I don't need to always look for that next challenge, that next goal. I have grown to realise that what I need to do is get to know 'me' better, get to like 'me' and most importantly begin to love 'me' for who I am.  It's taken a long time but I cannot emphasise enough how good it feels to be on that path.  

Instead of looking to change myself, I now look at what I have learned from the previous year, what I enjoyed, what made me laugh, what I want to do more of and then take it from there. It hasn't been straightforward getting to where I am and I am grateful for all the tools I have at my disposal now.  'I'm not good enough' was a very long EFT/Tapping session just over a year ago, where I tapped on every single aspect of my life where I felt that I wasn't good enough.  I can share with you that it was a very, very long session!!! It also involved a big box of tissues, especially when I tapped  on 'young Gillian' and how hard she had tried to do her best in very challenging times.  The change that came after that afternoon was massive and has lasted within me. 

Take time to reflect on the past year and begin to recognise areas of your life you would like to nurture and develop. Take a few days to mull it over. Search for the positives of 2019 and how you would like to manifest more of the same in 2020.  There will be positives, even if it is just that you have got this far. 

Now, let's return to the 16 Guidelines focus for January, 2020, which is Courage, and how it can apply to the month ahead. 

A 16 Guidelines view on courage: "Courage is about stretch. It’s about seeing, feeling or realising that something more or different can be done, developing the determination to do it, and then carrying through despite all obstacles. We know in our bodies when we’ve been courageous. There is a glow of satisfaction and relief. Something has shifted, and we have grown in size.

Courage is not defined by what we do, but what we overcome within ourselves. It comes in many forms. It is found in a steady approach to everyday difficulties as well as in the single spontaneous gesture. It is happening quietly all around us as well as in the news.

Courage involves acknowledging our fears, but not being deterred from offering something that goes beyond our own immediate needs and comfort. Most courageous people have decided that the well-being of others is more important than their own, and have allowed this decision to drive their actions and the way they live. Invariably, they seem to find their own happiness in the process."

I think you will agree with me that Courage is a perfect guideline for the beginning of the year?! 

Time for reflection:
1. Set aside some time in a quiet space.
2. Choose a couple of areas you would like to nurture/develop. 
3. Focus on the process not the outcome. 
4. Make it something you enjoy.
5. Research and plan e.g. Does the swimming pool timetable fit with your timetable?
6. Find a support network – go with a friend?
7. Tell someone close to you (or on the AndBreathe posts!) what you are going to do and write it down or create a vision board.
8. Learn to deal with set backs (Remember the 16 Guidelines focus - Courage!) .
9. Take a few seconds at the beginning of each day to remind yourself why it’s important to you.

You are not alone! Follow AndBreathe (andbreathe123) posts on Social Media or join AndBreathe Membership ( patreon.com/andbreathe123 ).  Being with like minded people can get us through the tricky times and challenges.  It is also good to be able to share the celebrations with us too! 

Please let me know what you have decided to nurture in your life in 2020.  I will share too!