First of all, thanks a bunch to you if you find yourself here. This is my first blog in a decade so I am excited and thankful that you are reading this, so let me dive right in!
When I took sometime to think about what my first post could be, it was pretty simple – it was the end of a pretty eventful (read lots of personal growth) decade. I have also just come out of a pretty challenging couple of years which has given me some wonderful lessons to take forward with me.
As I think about heading into 2020 and the decade that follows, here are some of the things I want to take forward with me
1. PRACTICE GRATITUDE
This is such a crucial life skill, which I learnt as a 30 year old ( really, better late than never). A year ago, when I was at the lowest point, it just became impossible for me see any light at the end of the tunnel. V, my husband who is this super blend of optimism and pragmatism, forced me to see the good things in my life. It was HARD, it was not an ingrained quality. But to give it a shot ( had to do something) I started to write a gratitude journal everyday. That kind of forced me to seek joys in the small moments and over a period of time, there has been no looking back. Today it is much easier for me to look at any situation and see some good in it and be thankful for it.
2. HAVE FAITH
I was a theist, who turned agnostic for a big part of the last decade, and now back to believing. I don’t know if that belief is on a being called God or if it is a journey towards figuring out my own spiritual calling.
There is a saying “The teacher appears when the student is ready”. I truly believe that happened in my case. At a time I was desperately seeking answers, a couple of doors opened for me, and I felt I was led into a different space. It is this space/ faith that started restoring in me the balance that I have been seeking for long. Faith can be a religion, it can be your immense self confidence, it can be your belief in the larger good. But faith is something, and it becomes that secret tool to really change your life.
3. PRACTICE SOMETHING YOU LOVE
Every part of our life won’t always go well. There will mostly/always be something that is irking us, or needs to be fixed and sometimes beyond our control. Its these little small things that go wrong, slowly claw its tentacles into our whole life and make us feel like the ship has capsized.
I got to this step, once I started writing my journals. It helped me compartmentalize and see whats going well, what isn’t. As much I couldn’t do much about what was not going well, I could surely do something more to make me feel more joyous. In my case it was trying to keep on my running practice and resuming yoga. Am I a yogini killing all postures? NOPE! But I go and try to give it my best shot and that keeps me very excited and looking forward to more. On days that are hard, I use my practice as a diversion or an energy infusion.
2020 and the decade to follow is going to shake me up and shape all over again. But with some right people to fall back on and some attitude tweaks in the tool kits, I just feel a wee better prepared to face the next curve ball :). And if you are still here, Thank you so much for patiently reading this, I really appreciate the support!
Wishing you a rockstar decade!
