As a self-proclaimed master of procrastination, I’ve got a secret weapon: The Lunar New Year. The late start to the ‘new year’ gives me an extra month or so to catch up on all the loose ends of the last year and an extra few weeks to push off into the new. My Chinese and Tibetan friends spend the first two weeks celebrating the new year, since they traditionally celebrate the new year as their collective birthday. They tell me it’s super auspicious to start the new year by doing things in the mood you want to set for the year. So, if you happen to have to do laundry on the first day of the new year, do it with a cheerful and grateful spirit instead of just seeing it as a chore if that’s what you’d like the tone for the new year to be.
As I look back, I’ve started to notice that what we don’t do can count a lot more in the long run. What we willingly ignore likely the wagon we fell off of too soon, the trip we didn’t take or the relationships we didn’t nurture can shape our path more than we realize. With a sense of taking inventory and an openness to acceptance this is a good time to look back and see what did you miss or take a pass on? Think about where you might be if you hadn’t strayed off into distraction, or if you stuck with that crazy regimen for another few weeks. There was likely a good reason why you chose what you chose, it could’ve been as simple as timing. By accepting that, accept that you now have the freedom to choose more and more wisely. And, since choice is such an incredible thing, and new possibilities come your way each day wouldn’t it be good to have a tool up your sleeve that would make it easier to choose? Like by highlighting what is most obviously worthwhile? Because, even in the toughest situations remember that you still have the power to choose.
Try this exercise that is a continuation of the tolerations list and the stop being so frenzied posts. Hopefully by doing those exercises you were able to find out what’s no longer serving you or is (was) creating an energy suck. Choosing well is all about choosing what truly matters to you, what will nourish you, and that is -your values. When things get tough, your values act as a compass to guide you back to what’s important. How do you know what your values are? They’re the things that make you feel at ease, perhaps a sense of wholesomeness. Because they reflect what you feel are basically good states of being.
Write down words that make you feel this way. There might be many, but if you look closely, you can narrow them down to a few.
For instance, humor, trust, honesty, fun, truth, health, purpose, family, love, adventure, connection, etc… or if you even find it easier to list them as verbs: traveling, exploring, laughing, etc.
These could all boil down to for example: learning, devotion, joy, and balance.
Now, use your basic values to help you make tough decisions. When you remember your deeper intentions, you’ll have the strength to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals, no matter how challenging things may be. And, most importantly it will help you choose well so that you can live a life that is aligned with what is most worthwhile to you.
May this Fire Stallion Lunar New Year be filled with the spurs of enthusiasm and the whip of wisdom to lead you to new heights of joy and fulfillment!
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