Every time a new year rolls around, we use it as an opportunity to give our lives a bit of an overhaul. Often, however, the changes we make are cosmetic. We resolve to exercise a little more, eat healthier and drink more water not because they will fundamentally improve our health but because they will result in a leaner, prettier and ultimately happier and more confident version of ourselves. While this is a great start, sometimes we need to scratch the surface and make more fundamental changes. We need to transform our outlook and the way in which we approach our day-to-day life. The trouble is that many of us are spinning so many plates in the worlds of work and home that we can find ourselves coasting through life seeming as though we’re barely keeping our heads above water. If it seems like each year passes you by quicker than the last perhaps it’s time to tap the brakes and assert yourself as you reach the midway point of the first month of the year…
Stop and breathe! The importance of mindfulness meditation
One of the main reasons why so many of us struggle to assert ourselves is because we feel like we have become backseat passengers in our own lives. Sometimes, we need to regain our mindfulness to put ourselves back in the driver’s seat. The great news is that mindfulness meditation gives you a great opportunity to do exactly that. By taking a moment to stop and breathe, you take the all-important first step towards asserting some more control over your life.
Just 5 minutes of mindfulness meditation every day can help you to feel much more in control of your life and help you to appreciate the little wonders that make up life. You can even do it in the car!
Start holding the people who have wronged you to account
It can be a crushing blow to our self esteem when someone wrongs us and gets away with it. Nonetheless, a fear of confrontation and a desire to keep our heads down and plow on through life can all lead us to give those who have wronged us a free pass.
Let 2019 be the year in which you settle the books with those who have wronged you. You don’t need to become an avenging angel and you certainly don’t have to be rude or confrontational. Call up the friend who owes you money and politely remind them. If you were injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, maybe now’s the time to pick up the phone and let the Derrick Law Firm handle your injury case. If your partner habitually does something that upsets you, now’s the time to bring it up and work with them to pursue a resolution that helps you to feel like you have more autonomy over your relationship.
Have a long, hard think about your job and your career
Most of us spend a goodly portion of our waking hours at work, so it’s essential that we start to mine more joy from our jobs and careers if we are to assert ourselves in the world of work. Now might be the perfect time to reflect on the knowledge and skills we’ve gleaned over the past year and use them to find more rewarding work. Moreover, if you feel like you’ve been stagnating at your desk, now’s the time to talk to your boss about how your talents are beginning to atrophy. Maybe now’s the time to take yourself back to school and learn new skills that will make you more employable.
Even if you need to remain in your job for the time being for financial or logistical reasons this does not mean that you are powerless. You can still find new ways to enjoy your old job!
Let 2019 be the year you climb back into the driver’s seat and show everyone how formidable you are!
