4 Things to Let Go of This New Year

4 Things to Let Go of This New Year

Every year at this time there are articles and blogs about New Years resolutions. Whether you should have them or not, how many is too many and how easy it is to fail at them. Like many other people I enjoy the idea of the fresh possibilities a new year brings, however this tends to fade as I get to mid January. The short days, credit card bills and cold weather mean my great plans to; cutdown on wine, shout less at the children and declutter the bedrooms, feel just that bit too difficult.

So this year I’ve decided to look at these resolutions in a new way. Instead of focusing on the goals I want to achieve, I’m going to focus on what I can let go of and see if that’s any easier.

1. I’m going to let go of the word ‘Should’ and instead replace it with the word ‘Could’. In my opinion could is a softer word and it feels full of choices. For example; I should drop a dress size by the end of March, sounds harsh and difficult to achieve. Whereas I could drop a dress size by March or I could accept myself as I am appears a lot kinder to me.
2. I’m also going to let go of producing the disaster movies that I regularly run in my mind. This is my ‘what if’ thinking and I can use it in any scenario resulting in outlandish endings.  Imagine I’m stuck in traffic on the school run, an infrequent situation which is easily resolved with the help of friends. However if I let my ‘what if’ films play, the outcome could be unrealistically drastic. Such as the school reporting me to social services and they take my children away or even a stranger kidnapping them! Both of which are ridiculous but ‘what if’ worrying can take you there and causes unnecessary stress and anxiety.
3. Being my own worst critic is something else I’m going to let go of. Going over past mistakes or perceived current shortcomings is tiring and has no purpose except to make me feel worse. So I’m going to give myself a break and accept that I’m uniquely imperfect.
4. Finally I’m going to let go of my age. For those that know me, they will have heard me moan about creeping nearer to 50 and it’s affect on my health and the activities I can do. So instead I’m going to let go of the number and it being an excuse to avoid doing things and this year will be boundary free.

I wish you all a very happy New Year and I’d love you to comment on what you’re going to let go of in 2015.

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