So a few of you know about my habits project from a few years ago. I attempted to see if, instead of having a few New Year's resolutions that I abandoned by March, if I could add a new habit each month. I only made it half way through the year, but I still think it could have a lot of potential if I could not only make it through a whole year, but keep up with each habit. Twelve new good habits could make quite a difference! And so I'd like to try it again. Last time I focused mostly on outward habits (like flossing my teeth regularly - ha, yeah, that didn't go so well...) but this year I'd really like it to be a combination of deeper things as well as more obvious ones.
In January my focus was on learning to let myself feel things deeply. "We have to open ourselves up to what we are feeling, to let those emotions flow. If we bottle them up, we will still feel them in our sub-conscious. Something will feel off, but we won't be able to identify it or know what to do about it." (Sorry for the paraphrase, Michael) And then the second half of this lesson was to "acknowledge a feeling or thought but not get caught in it." Its just a feeling, I don't have to let my emotions control me, but I can learn a lot from what I discover in them and where they are coming from and I still have a choice about what to do with them. These lessons have made a huge, huge difference in my life; I am able to tune in more easily to what is going on beneath the surface instead of merely rushing through life going from one thing to the next.
What I'd like to focus on this next month seems a little more mundane, and yet in a way it is still related to my lessons from January. Last month I learned to tune in to what is going on inside. Now I need to spend some attention tuning in to outward details. Things like being punctual (whether with returning library books or answering emails), keeping track of various things, and doing some projects to bring my surroundings to a little more order. (There's a pretty good likelihood I'll be moving at the end of the month so having things more organized by then would really help!)
So now you all know what I'm supposed to be up to this month...I'm hoping that will provide some added motivation ;)
3 comments:
i love your idea of a new habit to focus on each month! it doesn't make it seem so intimidating... maybe i'll have to borrow your idea and try it :)
moving = :'(
That's really neat Katie. And I LOVE that quote by Michael - that's exactly why I have to journal, and journal about everything - it helps me know who I am, so then I can grow. I love you!
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