As I sit down on the very first day of a brand new year to put
fingers to keyboard I paused for a moment to really think about what the
first day of a
new year really evokes for myself and many others. An entire new
year - 365 days of new opportunities. It gave me the opportunity to
think back on
the last 365 days of come and gone moments and I had the time to
reflect. This exact time last year Mitch and I were sat at this very
computer putting
together our ideas, hopes and dreams for the year ahead and
formulating through figures and research the prospect of opening our
very own Pilates studio.
Was it possible? At that time we really didn’t know as yet, we still
had so much consulting to do with various parties and many more numbers
to add
to various spreadsheets. Yet, here I am today again sitting at this
computer, having had our very first week of being open in “the dream”
that is our
Pilates studio and taking the time to reflect on the journey, and it
made this blog post on the 1st January 2017 so much more valuable.
What is it that you want for yourself for 2017? 365 days. 365 new
opportunities. 365 pages of a book still yet unwritten. I encourage you
to take a moment
right now. Don’t read on any further, but simply close your eyes
wherever you are and picture what you choose to reflect back on in
exactly 1 year
from now on the 1st January 2018?
What did you see? What do you desire? That is the first step to
creating the life of your dreams. Dream it. See it. Believe that it is
possible and then
reach out with both hands and collect.
Ok, so there is of course a lot more work than that involved. You
don’t simply sit on the lounge eating a block of chocolate and bam! That
fit, strong,
healthy, sexy body is yours! You don’t sit at your computer on
Pinterest or Instagram virtually designing your dream life, dream
partner, dream career
and BAM, it’s yours! No, we are all a lot savvier than that. Yes it
is a lot of work. And yeah it does involve sacrifices sometimes. But if
the desire
for whatever it is that you want more of in your life is strong
enough, as a broad guide if you believe it first, you see it and of
course you work
for it, you can achieve it. You literally are the artist, now is the
time to start painting your masterpiece.
“Now” being the key word here. As fleeting and passing as “now” is,
it is always within reach, every moment is a chance to turn it all
around, to redirect
the vehicle you are driving, to change habits, behaviours and
patterns that are not serving your greater good, your higher destiny,
your dreams, whatever
you want to call it - now is the time.
How freaking exciting is the thought of 365 untouched days of
possibility!! Sit down right now and put pen to paper or fingers to
keyboard and write out
the 3 things that are your utmost priority for 2017. Dream big, I
dare you! Maybe it is to start that dream career you sit at your
unfulfilling desk
job dreaming of? Maybe it is to be the fittest and healthiest
version of you possible? Maybe it is to save up to afford that dream
holiday/house/business
you fall asleep at night dreaming of? Whatever it is, put it down in
writing RIGHT NOW!
Ok, so now break that dream down into smaller steps and a timeframe
to achieve those small steps in. Maybe it is to simply start networking
and building
relationships with people in the industry of your dream career?
Maybe it is to start having an alkalising squeeze of lemon in your water
first thing
in the morning or getting up that half an hour early to fit in a
run/swim/pilates (yes I am biased) session? Maybe it is to save up a
certain amount
of finance within a certain time frame to get you on your way to
affording that big purchase. WHATEVER it is. Start now. Start with what
you have and
as long as you are moving in the right direction, at whatever pace,
your dream is becoming that much closer, moment by moment, each of the
next 365
days of this year.
Now that is something to jump out of bed for in the morning! In fact,
don’t wait until the morning. Start NOW. You are the artist of your own
life. I truly
believe that. And getting things down in writing really cements
those thoughts in your mind into something tangible. You can literally
see it. Having
a factual, black and white mind myself, I always look for the
science to back what I believe to be true and here it is -Dr. Gail
Matthews, a psychology
professor at Dominican University in California, did a study on
goal-setting with 267 participants. She found that you are 42 percent
more likely to
achieve your goals just by writing them down. That’s right 42% more
likely!! Writing things down forces you to clarify what it is exactly
that you
want your life, your legacy, to look like and by seeing it in front
of you it motivates you to take action.
So here you are - 365 days of new opportunities, experiences not yet
lived, people not yet met and dreams waiting for you to reach out and
claim them.
Get out of bed that hour earlier to live that hour more | Drink
more H2O (if you can afford a water filter or better yet an Alkaway
Fill2Pure to alkalise and ionize your water - even better!) | Be. Kind.
Always. | Love yourself | Write those goals down on paper | Back
yourself | Have confidence that you are doing pretty awesome at life |
Move your body in whatever way lights you up | Eat your vegetables |
Have some time away from technology (in fact this is something I hope to
incorporate into my 2017 - a technology shut down on Sundays) | Get
barefoot on the earth or in the ocean | Slow down | Learn lessons |
Accept challenges | Look after the planet | Look after each other |
Stress less | Go to bed earlier | Prioritise rest | Eat organic where
possible for both yourself and the planet | Trust that the universe has
your back | Don’t look back, you aren’t going that way | Take care of
your family | Have perspective | Make more love | Educate yourself |
Mind your own business | Do one thing everyday that scares you | Pay it
forward | Prepare your food for the week ahead | If you haven’t got
anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all | Lift one another up -
there is enough room for us all to make it I promise | Read books | Get
Sweaty | Don’t judge, everyone is fighting their own battles | Stay
positive | Nourish your temple | Laugh | Make a difference, big or small
| Love | Respect your foundations | Look after each other, we are all
in this together | Grow your own food where possible | Take care of your
gut health | Look after your skin | Wear sunscreen | See a therapist to
attend to those body niggles | Set intentions | Believe in yourself,
you’ve got this |
May 2017 be one that you reflect back on in exactly one years time
with a warmth in your heart and satisfaction in your soul. I will strive
to be doing
exactly that.
Lauren x
