A new year, a better you

Thank you for stopping by. Welcome to your yearly review! It's a great time to reflect on the past year and make plans for the future.

First, take a moment to think about your goals for the year in terms of discipline. Did you make progress towards achieving these goals? If not, what could you have done differently?

Next, review your daily habits, routines, and actions from the past year. What worked well for you and what didn't? Identify things you could do differently or better to improve your discipline in the coming year.

Now, it's time to make a plan for the coming year. This should include specific goals, routines, and strategies to stay motivated. Consider what tools or mindsets have helped you in the past, and what resources have been most helpful in your wins.

Take some time to reflect on what you've learned this year and what skills you've acquired. Think about things you're proud of, and situations where you could have handled things differently. What was the most rewarding situation for you this year? And on the flip side, what were your biggest mistakes? What did you learn from them?

It's also important to consider your physical, mental, and spiritual health. What did you do to stay healthy in each of these areas? And don't forget to express gratitude for the past year – what are you grateful for? Finally, what is the most memorable moment of the year for you?

Remember, you can pick and choose which questions resonate with you the most. This method of reflection can be a great way to go back and read through your responses from previous years, reminding yourself of your growth and progress.

Last but not least, it’s always good to be an acquirer of knowledge and that’s why I highly recommend that you acquire books from Audible in addition to Kindle. Studies show that audiobooks and reading can help one to reduce stress, fight depression symptoms, and increase vocabulary and comprehension. Personally, my favorite book is “No Excuses!: The Power of Self-Discipline”, by Brian Tracy.

Bonus: A truly underrated habit right before bed.

I’ve never been a big fan of Dr. Wayne Dyer, a well known self-help author and motivational speaker, and till this day, I don’t think I have read any of his books. Nonetheless, many years ago, I came across a piece of content that he had produced (link of clip below). In this short clip, he emphasizes the importance of the last 5 minutes before sleep as a time to program the subconscious mind. According to Dyer, the subconscious mind is most receptive when a person is unconscious, or asleep, and so it is important to be mindful of the thoughts and beliefs that are being reinforced during this time.

Dyer suggests that, instead of dwelling on negative experiences or feelings before bed, one should focus on positive affirmations such as "I am well," "I am content," "I am peaceful," and "I am God." He believes that these affirmations, repeated in the last few minutes before sleep, can help to program the subconscious mind with positive beliefs and ultimately lead to a more fulfilling and successful life.

While I don’t think it is necessary to focus on the specific affirmations listed above, I do think it’s important that prior to sleep, we focus on thoughts that are salubrious. For example, thoughts of accomplishing a goal, or thoughts of acquiring a new skill.

Sleep is extremely important to one's physical and mental health. In fact, sleep is where we clean out plaque that can lead to brain age related challenges. That noted, the next time you approach bedtime, write down in a journal some salubrious thoughts - you may come up with that eureka moment the next time you wake up.

Dr Wayne Dyer - 5 Minutes Before You Fall Asleep - Positive Affirmations - Wayne Dyer

Meditation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvs-_22lwjA

Here's to a happy and successful new year!