The New Year ushers in a spirit of hope and often, excitement for what is to come.
Here are some tips from us at Samaritan Counseling Center to make sure you enter 2017 with feelings of optimism and promise:
Set boundaries. We live in a time where the sky is the limit. People are available 24 hours a day via several different means of communication. The expectation is that we respond to any request and do so immediately. Learn to periodically turn off the screens and say no when it is appropriate. Saying “no” to a request often means saying “yes” to spending your time on something or with someone who is more important to you.
Be nice to others and forgive. There is nothing good that comes from being unkind. It doesn’t help others to feel better, nor does it feel good to the person dishing out the negativity.
Be nice to yourself. We all have an inner dialogue with ourselves and, sometimes, this self-talk can be more negative than positive. It’s difficult to be happy when we are focusing on, and pointing out, the negatives. It is imperative to be kind to ourselves, to pat ourselves on the back and fill that inner dialogue with praise and affirmation.
Use your gifts. There is no other person in this universe with your unique genetic make-up, your strengths and your gifts. Share this gift with others. It can be your vocation, your musical talent, your ability to comfort others, your unassuming personality, etc.; whatever it is, use it to contribute to the greater good.
Center yourself regularly. Get back to the basics. Remember your overarching goal and the means that you use to guide yourself. Prayer, mindfulness and/or reflection help us to be more intentional about how we are going about our days. Each of us has a way of staying on path, and it is imperative that we revisit this to ensure that we are happy and living the path that we choose, as opposed to stumbling down the path that falls in front of us.
Back to the basics. Remember your overarching goal and the means that you use to guide yourself. Prayer, mindfulness and/or reflection help us to be more intentional about how we are going about our days. Each of us has a way of staying on path, and it is imperative that we revisit this to ensure that we are happy and living the path that we choose, as opposed to stumbling down the path that falls in front of us.
Tips courtesy of Dr. Anna Settle, psychologist and relationship expert