Be Wonderful!

Hello everyone,

First of all, I wish you a Happy New Year and the best of luck for 2020.
May it become an incredible year for all of us.

As it is often, coming New Year's Eve, we want to make decisions. We want to change. We want to get better. We compose a list of resolutions to finally achieve what we would like to improve. The last day of the year, and also New Year's Morning, is a classic for many of us to review, to reflect, to reconsider life. We ask ourselves where we are, who we are, and where we want to get in the next period of 365 days. You are familiar with that, aren't you?

If you can reply with a 'yes' to the question, you might also be familiar with the challenges and little conflicts when it comes to reality and feasibleness of those resolutions, once the Christmas lights and fireworks have been vanished.

What, and great if you have those on your list, are the typical resolutions, then? Healthier food? Doing workouts or exercises every day? Stop smoking or drinking during the week? Spending more time with family and friends? Getting up at break of day because the early bird catches the worm? Oh yes, we all want that, right?

How is it possible now to realise our wonderful plans? How can we make it work and spring the trap of falling back into old patterns? What is the secret of carrying the motivation and vigour that really makes us glow on the 1st of January further than just a few weeks, if at all?

Well, I have thought about it. By the way, it hasn't to be the first day of the year to try some changes, it can be any day and any moment.

The first thing that mostly predicts resignation from the grand plans is that we want to achieve too much at once. When it would be better to walk we run at full speed for the aim we have set for ourselves. If we want to change, we have our programme, do we not? And we are so determined, are we not? We don't bother with odds and sods; we are the masters of our lists, we want to have the cake and eat it too!

It now appears that most of us will hear a little voice. It is the voice of our inner wellness world, and it is demanding. Some call it our weaker self, but it is not like that, really. It is the voice that tries to protect us; it is the voice that wants to send us on a way of lasting success, of long- term solutuions, of fundamental happiness. The clue is to translate what 'I want junk food now!' or 'I don't want to go out for a run, I'm too tired!' or 'I can do that tomorrow!' really means. It means that the beautiful little voice within us is trying to tell us we should just take smaller steps, but permanent ones.

So, instead of planning to intensely workouts for an hour a day, we could start with walks or sit ups in front of our TV, but we should do it every day. Instead of rigorously banishing fast food from our diets for the next 12 months, we could try to have a smaller portion of French fries every now and again, but have healthier food on the other days. If we want to spend more time with our family, it is not helpful to announce it to them full-throatedly. Instead of being there we should be present for them every day. They will notice the incredible difference that lies between it. Let's try doing it in small steps, too.

Why so? Why am I so persistent on small steps and gentle changes? I am because most human beings do not like changes. Changing means stepping out of comfort zones; it means risk something to see progress and new perspectives. And, yes, it oft means voicing needs and name things that we are missing at the moment. This is not easy, not all of us are ready for that. But, if we are honest, to change that should be our true New Year's resolution.
Small steps, therefore, are the way to get there. Small steps are manageable and, most importantly won't hurt the people we are surrounded with, people we care for. The opposite will happen, if we feel good they will benefit from our happiness. Small steps, but walked every single day, will sum up to a miracle. Do you know why? Small steps modify and improve unhealthy habits and behaviour nearly unnoticed, and after some time we will be surprised that we have mastered a huge and quite brilliant development of ourselves and life's situations thrown at us towards the dreams we have. Small steps lead to big ones, and that is all we need, right?

What I'm going to say now might sound to you like a poor  association, but maybe I can compare it with a telephone number of friends or someone we love. Or better, let's think of a song our mothers have sung for us when we were small. We have it on our fingertips and know it by heart, do we not? This is almost the same thing of how it works with the small every day steps. They will integrate themselves in our daily routine and work its magical spell.

Nonetheless, I must ask you a favour. I need to ask you to not doubting yourself. Please never do that. If there is a day, for whatever reason, when you were not able to walk, don't throw in the towel. Do not give up your dreams. Take the day as an unimportant and one-time slip on your way and try again. Do not see it a mistake. You have enjoyed that day as well, haven't you?
Please remember, there is no picture perfect life. But there is you. And you are wonderful as you are.

Happy New Year!