It’s officially Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. It’s a day of cleansing and renewal. As we make amends to those we may have hurt, we also look to the lessons we have learned in the past year.
Here are some of the lessons I have learned:
“Talking about our problems is our greatest addiction. Talk about your joys.” - Rita Schiano
It’s great to have a best friend and confidant to talk to. It’s important to not hold everything in and to have an outlet. We need validation as human beings and there’s nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, we talk about our problems and vent to a point where they take more power over us than we realize. There has to be a healthy balance.
I don’t like to dwell on situations. I give myself time to feel how I’m feeling, and sometimes I’ll talk with a friend or journal, and I find that very therapeutic. I then find that it’s good to delve into a hobby and to shift my focus.
“The deepest well can also be drained.” - Swedish Proverbs
The more you take care of yourself, the better you take care of others.
It’s imperative to fill your own cup. We must replenish and make ourselves a priority.
I know that I’m a natural born nurturer. I love to be of service to others but need to work towards better self-care for myself. Little things such as, listening to music, drinking my daily bone broth, spending time in the sun etc.
“You cannot control how people respond to your energy. At the end of the day, we are not people's ideas of us. That is a perception. How people react to you is a projection. Protect your energy.” - TheZenFashionista
How others react to us, is often not about us at all. People see one another through a filtered lens; through their own individual experiences and perspectives. While we have no control over that, we do have control over our own feelings and reactions.
In situations where I sense myself starting to respond to negativity, I take a step back and center myself. I remember this reflection does not have to do with me and take a deep breath.
As usual, I’ve written a list of my resolutions, but I’ve also written a gratitude list.
I am grateful for…
- My love of learning
- The abundance of sweet friends and loved ones in my life
- The leaves changing colors in the fall
- The power of music and its ability to transcend time
- Making fresh, nourishing juice
- Walks in nature
- A good night’s sleep
- Being able to say no
- Shopping on Amazon
- Clean water
My resolutions:
To read more -
I was the child who always had her nose in a book. I would easily read 200 pages a day. Reading expands your vocabulary, improves memory, reduces stress and best of all can transport you to another world. I really want to make it my goal to read 12 books in the next year. Recommendations welcome!
Write/Blog on a more frequent basis -
As I’m writing this post, I feel inspired to make more of an effort to connect on here. I have a lot of content I’d like to share on TheZenFashionista.
Stick to a regular self-care routine -
I want to create a more intentional daily self-care routine. I can get into a good rhythm of cleansing my skin, flossing my teeth, taking my vitamins etc., but sometimes I will have an off day and it seems to throw me off track. I need to remind myself that there may be a lapse in my routine and that it is ok. I can always adjust and begin again tomorrow.
Connect more to G-d and my faith and my spirituality-
With the hustle and bustle of our daily life, we can easily feel off balance and disconnected. I tend to ground myself through a number of different ways; tuning into a religious service, which I can stream from my couch, meditation with high frequency sounds, cleansing my space with sage crystals, listening to spiritual/religious music, etc.
There are 108 days left of 2022...What is something you hope to accomplish?
In this coming year I strive to love and honor myself and remain grateful and count my blessings.
I pray for peace, understanding and lots of love for one another, as we move forward...
Gmar Chatimah Tova! May you be inscribed in the book of life.
