Applause Please!
The New Year is upon you. Right on the tail of your full belly, busy schedule, and (hopefully) positive feelings about your world.
Before you dive back into your regular work and life schedule, how about you take a breath and consider the year you’ve been living? There’s time enough for New Year’s resolutions, goals, or choosing a “word of the year” after the ball drops at midnight on January 1, 2024. Perhaps you can spare an hour over the next few days to take stock of where you’ve been.
My favorite practice is Seeking the Hidden Gems of 2023. You’ll float back over the past year to uncover all the ways you’ve grown into a wiser human being.
No matter what area of life you look at, you’re seeking the small to large wins. No need to dwell on all things undone or resolutions left by the way side. This is a celebratory practice looking backwards. And it’s not just reserved for the big gains, although I’m sure you’ll find some of those. Remember that it is deeply personal and all relative. What’s a win to you may be nothing to another.
In this practice, there is no other to consider. After all, it’s your life you’re living.
You’ll want to float about in many categories of life. Some examples may include hobbies, friendships, all things health, dreams, care offered others or the planet, financial harmony, creative pursuits, favorite contributions (work, volunteer, private prayers), spending time alone, play, enhancing family wellbeing, spiritual practice, and any other aspect of YOUR wellbeing.
When your mind goes to a critical assessment of what wasn’t accomplished, where you failed, or what is missing, take a breath and remind yourself that Part Two of the practice, Aspirational Dreaming in 2024, doesn’t happen until the New Year.
I expect you to be surprised and delighted by all the Hidden Gems you'll uncover.
When you consider all of the Tiny Actions, simple pleasures, and many small to large wins, perhaps you’ll discover a more capable version of yourself.
One who is deeply human in all of your vulnerabilities, desires, beauty, and gifts. One who is more interconnected with others than you may have realized. One who has been receiving as well as giving, and most likely sharing times of happiness, meaning, and contribution with others (animals and nature included!).
It’s often the things you take for granted that, when written on your list, add up to reveal you are quite something and have lived a fuller life than you’ve realized.
Of course, you’ll want to include the challenges you’ve faced. When you do, instead of focusing upon how hard, sad, or overwhelmingly devastating these times were, seek the tiny if not great things you learned about yourself, others, and life.
When I’ve faced the most challenging times in my life, I’ve looked for how Love infiltrates every encounter.
I could write a book on how Love moves in these moments. Through others, through me, through the physical space, and through all emotions that ebb and flow. It amazes me and leaves me open, willing, and ready to be with Life as hard as it is showing up in those moments. When I forget to seek Love, I’m stressed and dismayed. It’s amazing how easily you drop into fear and stress while leaving love and wonder off to one side, isn’t it? Yet that is the way of it for most humans, even with the best of intentions.
The cool thing about Seeking Hidden Gems is that you may want to revisit the practice throughout the year.
A monthly or quarterly review is not just for the financially savvy human. Recognizing how you’re growing into your wisdom, generous spirit, and capacity to enjoy Life requires awareness. Without stopping to smell the proverbial rose, you miss what’s often right under your nose.
Here’s the How To. It’s simple.
Give yourself the gift of a quiet space, at least an hour or so, and a blank notebook. You can nourish this practice any way that makes sense to you. Some folks love to create a ceremony by opening sacred space, lighting a candle, enjoying soothing instrumental music, and whatever is personally meaningful. I’m a big fan of the unlined journal, colored pens, and doodling my findings. I find this type of “journal” invites the seeding of new growth and nourishment of dreams I can’t yet articulate.
Choose your 6 – 10 categories for review. Be creative and find those areas of life that are truly meaningful to you.
And don’t leave out the hard ones! They often yield the most surprising fruit. The idea of “float back” is to let your mind gently travel over the year. It’s typically not in a linear fashion. More like a meandering through memories. Some insights are bright and obvious. Others have a more subtle glow and may have to be sought with a bit more relaxed diligence.
A few simple questions may prompt your meandering treasure hunt.
What was good about that time or situation? How did I grow into a stronger, more compassionate, and competent person? Where did play, creativity, laughter, and fun show up in the year? What tiny gains added up or seeded something I can keep on nourishing in 2024? What did I really love, enjoy, or benefit from last year? What motivated me to be kind, generous, and loving? Am I any wiser? What did I offer others? What did I bring out into the world?
When you’ve meandered a bit, written down some notes, and examined all your categories, take a look at any areas where the gems are sparse.
Now it’s time to go smaller. If you’re like most people, you may be looking for those bigger gems that sparkle for all to see. Find the tiny movements you made. Getting out of bed on hard days. Helping a stranger. Donating a dollar to a food bank at the grocery store. Eating a few green beans. Exploring a new activity or place.
Finding a bunch of “micro movements” toward wellbeing and wisdom is essential in every category.
Spoiler alert: if you take the time to WholeHeartedly Seek your Hidden Gems, you may discover a wise, loving, and creative person living within your skin. Seems worth the meander. Don’t forget this is a celebratory practice, so give yourself a round of applause and maybe a few pats on the back along the way.
Check out the HeartWarming News below. You’ll want to seek other’s good fortune as well as your own. Win win!
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
HeartWarming
News
You CAN catch happiness. Studies have shown that stress is catching, such as how witnessing others in pain can activate the pain network in your brain. (Hint: turn off the evening news and read your news selectively). New studies on “positive empathy” reveals that your brain will also resonate with positive emotions. Witnessing other’s good fortune can activate the reward system in your brain. Hip hip hooray for you and me! Positive empathy experiences are good for your peace of mind, relationships, happiness, and self satisfaction. Lots of not so hidden gems there!
