Being OK with where you are!

As 2023 draws to a close, you might be reflecting on the past year, and looking ahead to 2024. Perhaps you are beginning to think about some New Year’s resolutions, or setting intentions to attract more of what you want and need next year. 

But what if you were to take a step back, breathe deeply and hit the pause button? What if you gave yourself a brief moment to remember that it is OK to be exactly where you are right now - because where you are is precisely where you’re meant to be!

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t set New Year’s resolutions or intentions. Of course it’s great to have an idea as to what you want the landscape of the following year to look like. It’s good to release what is no logger serving you, and to carry forward what is - to create new healthy habits and figure out ways of making your life better, and living more contentedly (because that is the ultimate goal, right?!) 

But, I wonder, are you being kind to yourself about your intentions for the year ahead? Are your resolutions realistic and achievable? Or are you striving for the unattainable (in the here and now), or feeling stressed and anxious about “achieving your goals”?  (Again, that’s not to say don’t dream big… but just make sure you’re giving yourself a fair chance!)

Can you find a way to make your goals, intentions and resolutions more joyous, exciting and fun? Do they come from a place of love and respect for yourself, or a place of insecurity, fear and a sense of lack? 

Us Yogis are always harping on about living in the moment, being content, and practicing gratitude for where we are and what we have in any given moment. And the reason we do this, is because we truly believe that we are always exactly where we’re meant to be in the present. 

Of course Yogis are also human, and it is normal for us to reflect on the days, weeks, months and years that have passed, and look towards what is yet to come. But it is through the practice of yoga (and I don’t mean in the physical sense!) that we come to the realisation that it is the accumulation of our past experiences that have brought us to this present moment. And if we can cultivate acceptance and gratitude in the present, then this will set us up for the future. 

Perhaps you have no New Year’s resolutions - good on you too!!

You might not be interested in starting a new hobby, or investing in yourself by beginning a new or revisiting an old healthy habit (like yoga), and that’s totally cool…

 … But, even if you are absolutely ok with where you are in your life right now, you still might want to consider enhancing it further by dusting off and rolling out that yoga mat again, or taking it out of its packaging for the first time! And I would love for you to let me guide you on your journey, and discover (or re-discover) this amazing practice, with its incredible ancient wisdom, and endless list of benefits, that can be applied to our modern lives. 

Starting something new, or returning after a break, is really scary - I completely understand. Our brains are hard-wired to both shy away and love novelty at the same time (more on this at a later date). But as I said earlier, if you look at (re)starting your yoga practice as something exciting, fun and joyous, and if you start small (maybe practising a session online at home or trying a free class first?) then you won’t have anything to lose, and only everything to gain - I promise! 

Namaste and see you in 2024!
xxx

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