Starting the New Year Soft - because being Strong is overrated!
It’s easy to get caught up in the pressures of setting new year resolutions and doing all the rituals to make sure you’re starting off the year “right.”
Oh how the world would change if we all took this time to reflect and prepare our energy for the new year.
While the calendar invites us to celebrate a new year, new beginnings and new cycles. Nature is very much dormant and hibernating—and personally my energy aligns with the flow of nature.
I decided that in 2024, I will be starting the year off soft, because being strong is overrated. Instead of pressuring myself into taking action on goals, I’m taking my time with revising my vision based on my reflections of the last 3-years.
SInce 2020 I’ve been working the same vision board-as my goals haven’t changed, and while I don’t plan to change the vision, it’s key that I continue to integrate and nurture the mindset that will support me this year with bringing these visions to fruition.
I wanted to share with you to few ways I’ve started the year off soft in 2024.
“I’m starting the year off Soft! Being strong is overrated!”
While there are many ways you can embody a softer more feminine approach to the new year, the following three suggestions, are just that—suggestions. You are not obligated to do these very things in said order. These are just a few recommendations offered for a different take on the new year energy and efforts.
Reflection
The end of the year is a perfect time to reflect on the past and look forward to a fresh start. Yet, it shouldn’t stop at December. Reflection offers the opportunity to think about your accomplishments, challenges, and things you would like to improve. This will help you identify areas where you need to focus your efforts and intentions in the new year.
Meditating and journaling are my go-to tools when reflecting on my life. I enjoy taking a moment to pause and connect with my subconscious mind and nervous system to identify my baseline energy.
I’ve noticed that ending 2023, I’d been focusing on my creative confidence and putting more intention in creating freely. When I reflect on 2023, I held back a lot! My creative impulses mostly overwhelmed me. So at most, I’d just write them down.
Instead of judging myself for not acting on my creative impulses, I respected them enough to write them in my notebook for me to review and almost re-inspire myself when I feel more confident to take action.
I encourage you to start the New Year soft by taking some time to reflect on the last year or two. See where you are, so you can make any adjustments to your habits or mindset.
Review
I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t have a plan for 2024. Truthfully, between moving into a new home, getting a new car and starting a family; I’m aware of where my efforts and intentions should be going to prepare for these new beginnings.
However, even in this awareness — I have to review what I am already doing, my current thought patterns and self-dialogue. While this is similar to reflection, it has a different objective—to make a decision. Look at the overall plan you have for 2024, where can you start make decisions now?
For me, I know motherhood is on the horizon (I can literally feel it nearing closer). Therefore, I am taking intentional action with nurturing and reparenting my inner child. This can look like, nurturing the most sensitive parts of me with a deepen awareness and compassion. This can look like going to therapy, drawing, playing outside, sitting in nature—the list continues.
I know I must make it a habit to love on me and embracing myself fully because motherhood is an evolution of that love.
Review your vision and ask yourself, am I actively taking emotional, mental and physical action toward this vision? also ask yourself, “Where am I holding myself back?”
What can you decide to do today that will support you tomorrow?
Rest
Resting is by far my favorite way to soften intentionally. Majority of the world acts as if you’re suppose sprint the first quarter of the new year, and those people are sadly misled. Since the first leaf to fall, we’ve been called to rest and restore our energy. Resting is an essential pillar in the manifestation process. It’s how we receive with ease.
While you’re creating your vision board and writing your intentions for the year, don’t forget to allow your subconscious mind to do the heavy lifting. Resting activates the imagination, offering a mental movie displaying what we think about most.
Tools like guided meditations and sleep hypnosis videos can be helpful during this time of continued rest. Employing the mind to hold the vision, your actions will begin to support the vision without feeling forced or subjected to relapse.
Rest can become the secret ingredient to your journey.
Come March, when everyone is on the brink of burnout ready for spring break, you’ll be emerging from your intentional and restful winter preparation, fully energized and ready to take action.
Personally, I’m excited to do yoga in the morning, and journal my blog post drafts before publishing them. I’m thrilled to meditate and visualize my goals already done and accomplished. I’m grateful to take this time to affirm my vision and remain open to the miracles and blessings of 2024.
I look forward to emerging in the spring. I appreciate the journey of discipline. I am thankful for deciding to do my work, my way!
I hope you enjoyed this brief but effective guide to a Soft Start to 2024. Before you leave, comment below how you plan to start your 2024 off soft and intentional?
xo,
jl