“I want to positively change my life in 2024, but I don’t know where to start?”

As 2024 inched closer and closer, I heard so many souls wonder about making lasting positive changes in their lives. Which on its own is a wonderful thing to do. Any change is positive and will surely make the quality of life better and help to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves.

Healing mentally, physically and spiritually can be your 2024 intentional goal too. ❤

But, most souls don’t know where to start making these positive changes. There is so much information out there in terms of books and podcasts and ted talks and youtube and ofcourse the pop psychology tik toks/reels/shorts that it can get highly confusing to even begin.

First off, DO NOT take the pop psychology stuff you see on the internet too seriously. They can be very misleading and often add to your already prevelant anxiety, which is NOT healing at all. Always cross check with reliable professional websites or therapists.

Secondly, keep your healing goals for 2024 simple. Don’t overwhelm your nervous system with too much, as that can lead to panic and anxiety as well. Simple but effective should be your goal when it comes to your 2024 goals.

The Quick Guide to Making Lasting Positive Changes in 2024(or anytime of the year)

And now to simplify the process of making positive changes in your life easier, here is a quick guide.

Take what you want, start where you want, there is no right or wrong order when it comes to healing. There is just what feels right for you.

1. Waking up early:

“There is a morning inside you waiting to burst open into light.” ~ Rumi

There is a beautiful energy to early mornings that cannot be compared to any other energy in the world. That is why all spiritual practices are always reccommended to be done at sunrise. I know of so many people who have talked about this early morning practice in their books eg. Deepak Chopra in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: A Practical Guide to the Fulfillment of Your Dreams , Robin Sharma in The 5 AM Club: Own Your Morning. Elevate Your Life, Dr. Wayne Dyer in The Power of Intention: Learning to Co-Create Your World Your Way etc. (add these to your reading list if you haven’t already read them)

Benefits-
– spiritual focus
– increased productivity
– tranquility and calm

How-
– aim to wake up at the same time everyday.
– remain awake and start by soaking in the calm and simply being.
– read any spiritual text during this time, even if its just for a few minutes.
– begin to plan your day slowly during this time.

2. Journaling Daily:

“Your journal will stand as a chronicle of your growth, your hopes, your fears, your dreams, your ambitions, your sorrows, your serendipities.”~ Kathleen Adams

Journaling has been a profound avenue of self-expression and reflection for centuries. Whether used as a tool for personal growth, creative expression, or simply a means of capturing life’s moments, journaling has something to offer for everyone. From famous authors and philosophers to everyday individuals, one thing is true: the act of keeping a journal has the power to inspire, provide clarity, and transform.

Benefits-
– improved self awareness
– instills gratitude
– reflection of the day brings clarity

How –
– get a journal or prompt journal if you dont know where to start (I’m going to share a positive printable journal for 2024 next week, which is where you can start as well)
– write down your daily reflections,what you are grateful for, lessons learned during the day

3. Keep Learning:

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

It has been shown in the research that learning helps improve and maintain our over all well-being. It can boost our self-confidence and our self-esteem. Learning constantly helps build a sense of purpose, and foster deeper and more satisfying connections with others. I know of people who are engaged in learning, who report feeling better about themselves. These people also reported having a greater ability to cope with stress, as well has feeling more self confidence, hope and purpose. Setting goals and working towards them plays an important role in the way learning influences well-being. Setting targets and hitting them can create positive feelings of accomplishment and achievement, and can also be motivating to do more.

Benefits-
– Personal growth
– Instills self confidence
– Empowers

How –
– Dedicate 20-30 minutes a day to read on a topic you want to learn more about.
– Take out time weekly or even monthly to build up you skill set by doing courses online.
– Opt for documentaries instead of Netflix.
– Be curious to learn more about everything.

4. Move your body

“Exercise to stimulate, not to annihilate. The world wasn’t formed in a day, and neither were we. Set small goals and build upon them.” ~ Lee Haney

It has long been known that regular exercise is good for our physical health. It can reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and strokes. But now in recent years, studies have shown that regular physical activity also has benefits for mental health. Exercise can help people recover from depression and prevent them from becoming depressed in the first place. I know that when people get depressed or anxious, they often feel they’re not in control of their lives. Exercise gives them back control of their bodies and this is often the first step to feeling in control of other areas of life too.

Benefits-
– Personal growth
– Instills self confidence
– Empowers
– Physical health
– Mental Clarity

How –
– Incorporate activities like walking or swimming into your daily routine.
– Start with Walking for 10 minutes a day and then gradually keep increasing the minutes as you get more and more comfortable with movement.
– Put a timer on your phone or watch to go off after every hour, to remind you to move your body.
– Go outside in nature atleast a few times a week.

5. Create a Night time Routine

“We need time to defuse, to contemplate. Just as in sleep our brains relax and give us dreams, so at some time in the day we need to disconnect, reconnect, and look around us.” ~ Laurie Colwin

A night time routine is the things you do immediately prior to going to bed. For example, it may be your habit to have a cup of tea before going to bed, or perhaps you like to read a book in bed before falling asleep.
During the day, your brain is hard at work making sure you walk, talk, blink, chew,  listen, and observe the world around you. This leaves little time to process thoughts and emotions. At night, your body is at rest, leaving your mind to sort through all the memories of the day. If you do not get enough sleep, your brain will be bogged down with memories in the morning. This limits your ability to tackle the next day’s tasks. Think about how productive you feel when you come to work with nothing on your desk. Now think of the instant stress you feel with a pile of papers on your desk. Let your body rest long enough, and your brain will clear your mental desk for the next day.

Benefits-
– Rejuvenation
– mental clarity
– increased energy
– more focus for spiritual work

How –
– limit screen time before going to bed.
– No screens atleast an hour before bed.
– go to bed early
– use calming positive affirmations
– have a chamomile tea before bed to calm your mind

In conclusion

Making lasting positive changes is something we all strive for everyday of our lives. Honestly, everyday is an opportunity to create change that is good for our wellbeing. The new year however brings with it a fresh energy that we can all tap into to ignite that change.

Also, most of the changes that I have talked about in this article are not difficult to begin working on. They seem almost too simple. But I know for sure, that there is immense power in the simple. One of my clients who suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for years now swears by her night time routine and nature walks to keep her centred. I personally use all these ways depending on what I am feeling I need help with managing emotionally.

As most spiritual mentors and teachers have said that ‘change is the only truth’. I have accepted it as part of my ongoing journey through this worldly life. There is a surrender to the Divine and acceptance of life as it is, that makes creating positive change even more satisfying. Paradoxical isn’t it?

Question for you: What lasting changes are you planning to incorporate in your life in this new year? What from this qucik guide have you already tried? Share in the comments. I would love to hear from you ❤

🩷If you’d like 1-on-1 counseling sessions and spiritual guidance with me, come on over here.

Thank you SO much for your presence here! I appreciate it!

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