2010: How can we make it the best yet!

The start of a new year is here!  Many people begin the new year hoping and prodding this year to be their best year ever, but they aren't quite sure how to make this new year their best yet. I find the month of January to be the perfect time to set an intention for myself in the new year.  I enjoy reflecting on the past year, looking at what worked, and what didn't work so well in order to see how I could change or improve what I am doing or creating.  These simple reflections can lead us down a road to really evaluating what we want, and how to take the visioning process from dreaming to living!

In yoga class today, my teacher said to us, "Oftentimes we forget that we are free, and we search for freedom from all that we are bound to.  But it is important to remember that we are born free and are continuously searching for something to bind to."  That something can be positive or negative.  It can be our life purpose, a friend, a job, a house, a town,  a pet, or a  food...  Sometimes we find ourselves bound to things that don't support our hearts truth, even our very own thoughts can be a source of either positive action, or negative action.  As women, this is common in abusive thoughts about food, movement, or how we relate to our bodies.

When searching for an intention or a positive something to bind to for the new year, it is important to find an intention that is true to ourselves.  I find the questions, "What is life calling me to do?" and "What is the year feeling like to me?", "What have my greatest challenges taught me this past year?" are all great questions to ask in order to find an intention that will be supportive and bring one closer to a higher vision, and deeper self connection.

An intention is something to be lived through each day.  It should be something that resonates with your heart and makes you feel joyful, inspired, and true each time you come back to it.  Setting a realistic, nourishing and self loving intention that ultimately brings you closer to your truth is a powerful way to set the new year off as your best year yet. How can this year be the best year of your life?  What does it take for you to find joy, contentment, and passion right here and right now?

The spark that lights your fire ~ Living with Purpose

What is it for you that gives you inner fire, passion, and connects you to your inherent purpose.  How do we infuse every area of our lives with this?  When the light feels dim, what brings the fire back?  These questions are all important keys to overall health and happiness.  Each of us may have our different passion and purpose, but what is the common thread we all share in connecting to this place within? I have been observing, witnessing and studying this phenomenon in hopes that making sense of these common threads will not only unite us more as individuals sharing connection, commonality, and human-ness, but also when we find some of these keys to overall health and happiness it is like making a collective jump in the joy in the world.

Some of the theories that seem to hold true for me are:

1.  Self care:  If we learn and listen to what our bodies need to be nourished as far as food, sleep, quiet time, creativity, we feel more energized, vital, and free to live in our purpose completly.

2.  Movement:  When we find the kind of movement that works for our individual bodies, the energy is moving, and we are strong, revitalized and awakened.

3.  Service:  If our purpose is infused with a sense of service outside of ourselves and is difused to every role we play in our lives, the power and momentum is increased.  Our vision becomes one that can move mountains!  How do you serve in your life?

There may be some magic that I am missing, or maybe, just maybe the magic is found in the simplicity that is so often over looked.  Something to ponder, explore and find out for ourselves .....

much love

Sue Van Raes

Holistic Nutritionist, Health Coach

www.BoulderNutrition.com