It’s a new year. New years often begin with resolutions. I have not made a resolution in the longest time. I do set goals for myself, but I try not to “resolve” to do anything. Goals inspire me. They motivate me. And in recent years, I have learned to become more gentle with myself when I don’t reach certain goals. Yey, me!
Over the past few years I have chosen to focus on a single word throughout the year. That word guides what I do and the decisions I make. It simplifies things for me.
This year my word is EASE.
I want to do things with less effort. I plan to still work towards my goals of course, but to do so in a way that is not full of effort. A way that doesn’t have an energy of pushing, striving, forcing. It will be more gentle, less effort. Not “easy”, but less forceful.
Breathing is huge. Bringing the breath into all I do. Considering “Does this make me happy? How can I bring more ease to this?”
I still plan to read 52 books this year.
I still plan to continue playing piano and learning new music.
I still plan to continue tap dancing (something I dropped the ball on last year).
I still plan to continue to build my strength and flexibility in my home gym.
But I plan to do all these things with ease.
And to say “no” to other things.
Do I need to take another grad school class right now? No, that can wait.
Do I need to write a blog post every week? No, I can do so when I feel inspired.
The pandemic has certainly made things simpler as my husband and I no longer go out for non-essentials. Though even without the pandemic naturally simplifying certain aspects of my life, this is still something I would want to focus on.
Take the pressure off. Do things I enjoy. Do them with ease.
How can you bring more ease into your life?
Do what makes you happy. Do it with ease.