AS A new year begins, we reset ourselves to make room for change and transformation. Some will make New Year’s Resolutions, which often involves thinking back over a potentially discouraging year, and seeking out all the negatives, the faults, to correct the upcoming year ahead. No matter how hard the past may have been, a new year highlights the fact we can always begin again. A time to put the past in the past and celebrate a new start. The New Year is all about fresh starts and looking to the future with optimism.

A New Year self-improvement plan can be a positive thing with benefits for your mental wellbeing and physical health. It’s a good time to set achievable goals and refocus on what truly matters to you. This can be valuable when needing motivation to keep going when the tough days arrive and can support a clear focus on what you need and what steps you need to take to get to your end goal destination. Keep reminding that little voice of doubt inside your head you hear that it’s also OK if you fail, some things just take more time, more strength and practice.

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Reflection on the year that has passed allows you to think about the things that are truly important as this can be overshadowed by the constant need to meet expectations of others. But, what about you…if you ever find yourself asking what it takes to have and maintain a life of peace and harmony, perhaps the answer is simplicity. It is said that minimalism is a lifestyle philosophy. As always with minimalism, less is more. It focuses on the theory that you only need to be surrounded with what and who adds most meaning and value to your life and once that has been achieved so will a long term feeling of contentment. If you surround yourself with the right people they will only lift you higher. Your needs are priority, honour your boundaries. You can’t be everything to everyone and nothing to yourself.

The more you focus on your needs and your own mindset and what steps you can take to get to a more peaceful mindspace. The more you practice it, the more you will welcome positivity in your everyday life. Small steps create big smiles.