New Year, New Beginnings

Happy New Year dear readers! I want to start off by wishing everyone a very happy, prosperous, healthy and peaceful 2021! This is my first post for the year and I am writing about 12 ways to grow yourself this year. To help us live a happy content life, I have made this list of 12 virtues or learnings that can help us all live a life filled with contentment and joy.

Every day is a new beginning. This is the tag line for my blog. I truly believe that each day we have a chance for a new start. Each day brings new hopes and new beginnings. Now that it is 2021, this new year is a new beginning for all of us. The start of a new year brings new hopes for the future, gratitude for past and enjoying the present. Hope this post brings motivation and joy as we embark on this new journey in this new year.

Here is my list of 12 ways to become a new you through continuous improvement and growth-

1. Always have a positive attitude

Be positive. Read my earlier post about 5 benefits of having a positive attitude. We have to learn to look at bright things in life and that mind set helps us focus on goodness around us and keeps us going.

2. Learn to live in the present

The best present or gift is right now. We can look back at past for beautiful memories and look forward to future with anticipation, but it is the present that we should relish. Living in the present through mindfulness brings peace and joy. Read my earlier post about 5 ways to embrace the power of now.

3. Find happiness in small things

We do not have to wait for big moments- promotions, new house, new car, new job and so on, to be happy. Happiness can be found in simple small things, and let us have this mindset of finding joy in small things in life. Read this post about 20 things that make me happy

4. Count your blessings

There is always something to be thankful for. Instead of feeling low about lack, try to look at abundance in your life and always count your blessings. Positivity attracts positivity, so being thankful and counting your blessings brings more blessings your way. Change your attitude, and try to see the difference yourself. Read this post about counting your blessings.

5. Make small goals for yourself

What would be life without purpose and direction? To feel content and accomplished, set small goals and reach them. Part of being successful is when you see yourself reaching goals and plans you make for yourself. Having a goal keeps you focused and driven in life. Read this post about 5 things to do every day.

6. Use positive words

Words are very powerful as they help shape our thoughts and actions. Verbalize your positivity and blessings by speaking them. Encourage yourself and others around you through your words and affirmations. Read this post about words of encouragement.

7. Have an attitude of gratitude

Having an attitude of gratitude makes you feel blessed and happy. Remember it is an attitude and can be developed with time. Some examples would be having a gratitude journal or writing positive thoughts every day.

8. Grow your faith

As I wrote in my previous post about gratitude for 2020, faith moves mountains. Faith and believing makes one stronger. It doesn’t matter what religion you follow (or don’t) faith will give you purpose and direction in life. I believe in the one God or universal energy that sees over all of us.

9. Spread Love

Love everyone. We have heard as this children. This has been taught for time immortal but it is really important. If we take out our differences and expectations and love everyone unconditionally this world would be such a beautiful place. None of us may have reached that point but this journey of trying and doing our best is good enough. Love with all your heart. There is positive and negative in every person, we should look at positives and let go of negatives if we want to gain the best experience of this journey called life.

10. Be humble

Humility keeps us grounded. There is more peace as we become humble and shed our ego and pride. Humility keeps us going in the right direction and may help us lead a simple life of love and compassion.

11. Try to give back

We all live in society and everything around us shapes us. As it is said, it take a village to raise a child. We should not take for granted what all we receive from others around us. Try to give back to community through small gestures. Although holiday season is the best time to give as per research, we do not have to wait for special occasions to give. Give when you can, and how you can. You may read this post about it is the time of giving for some motivation and examples of ways of giving.

12. Have Patience

Patience and perseverance helps a lot in our life. We need to learn to be able to do our actions and wait patiently for results. This is a virtue which brings lot of rewards and joy with time. We also need to reach our kids about delayed gratification. We can not have everything now and here. Learning to be patient also teaches humility and tolerance.

Summary

To summarize, as this new year 2021 has begun with new beginnings we may look at 12 ways we can grow and better ourselves. We can either take 12 months to practice each of these 12 virtues one month at a time, or we can pick and choose the ones we are most comfortable with. Instead of making resolutions we can make small goals to chose the ones we think will be most helpful for us to live a happy and content life.

Dear readers, we would love to hear from you. Please share your new year goals or resolutions. What is your favorite from my list of 12? Which ones do you resonate or connect with the most? Do share the ones you follow in your life that brings you joy and peace. You may comment below or send an email to nishtha@dawnandhope.com.