My January Rituals

 Hello,

 Happy New Year to you all,

Well, what a year it has been, I was looking back to see when my last blog post was, and it was a year ago! But honestly, I just wanted to take each day as it come. Life just got very busy after Lockdown 3.0, and there was also a summer love too but sadly didn't last, so starting another year single. My god, since the pandemic it's hard to meet people isn't it if you find one thing you don't like about the people we are very quick to move on. The dating scene is so difficult nowadays. Anyway, during the lockdown, I really just wanted to rest, peace, an escape from the world, and something that just made me smile and feel good. So I was busy painting instead of blogging, creating art pieces of all kinds of things which gave me time to myself, time away from scrolling, helped me relax and get out of my monkey mind too. When I shared my art on social media, people loved them, said I should be selling my art, so I open up an Etsy Shop. Between getting back to work in May it has kept me busy throughout the year. But I tell you more about that in another blog post. Today I just want to share some of my January rituals with you, what I like to do to set myself up for a fresh new year. Maybe give you some nice things to work on to get your mindset on a more positive note and out of the January blues. I have a feeling this year will be good, we may finally see an end to the restrictions, the constant fear and worry, and life can resume as normal. Fingers crossed.

Ritual no.1 - Reflect, Reorganise, Reset

Reflect on the good memories of the past year and focus on them only. Highlight them in a photo album, share them with friends and family on socials. It can be easy to only remember the bad memories, what we failed at and sadly that is in human nature. Change your mindset, be grateful for the good days. I put together a 'reflection frame' where had photos printed by 'freeprints' and I collaged them together, so I can admire the happy memories of last year. Reorganise and reset, comes with removing Christmas from the house, reducing the wardrobes and draws. Instead of the house feeling empty, make it feel fresh, tidy and make room for the new year. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it has taught us that we don't need much. 

Ritual no.2 - Rest, Meditate, Journal

Now we have the Christmas decorations down the house is organised, before you start goal setting and starting that action plan. Girl, rest! take some time to rest the body the mind. Take a bath, meditate, journal get all those thoughts out of your head and onto paper and take as long as you need. For me, I took 3 weeks of sick leave to get back to myself again. Yes, I was sick also, which made me even more stressed and anxious. But been given that time to heal, sleep, slow down, I feel so much better now for it. My head is clearer, I/m more focused on what I want in life, what I want to achieve. I just kept writing, doodling until my tension headache passed. Journaling has really helped me get my thoughts out on paper instead of bouncing around in my head trying to not forget about an idea that came to me at 2am or what I have to do next week. Meditating has really helped me release what's more important to me and has given me focus while being calm and confident in myself. I have started a course of 21 meditates to 'Finding yourself' with the lovely Sinead Hegerty, would highly recommend to any beginner or practised, the Visualize mediation has been my favourite one so far. Which has set me up for my next ritual. 

Ritual no.3 - Manifesting, Making a Vision Board and an Intention candle 

This Isn't my first year in making a vision board, but this year by doing ritual no.2, my vision board for 2022 is now very balanced, precise, and full of everything I visualized in my meditations. I am aiming for big changes this year. But some of it also scared me a little too, can make me second guess myself, I do self-sabotage myself. So I also made an intention candle, now this candle you place objects within the wax to represent an intention, as you light this candle each time you remind yourself of those intentions to keep yourself focused. For me, I needed help letting go of the fear of doing things alone, believing in myself, investing in my dreams, to give me courage. So for example I place the aeroplane from the Millionaires Monopoly box with the intention of 'I will not be afraid to fly/travel this year by myself, I also placed a little green rental house from the monopoly box with the intention 'I will enjoy living by myself, comfortably knowing I have more than enough money to for rent/bills'. Then on my vision board, I have three destination bucket list items I want to do this year, which means I will have to get on a plane to do them. I also want to move into my own place this year, and live by myself just loving life. So do you get the idea of an intention candle? It's a nice little idea, to help yourself reach those goals you have set on your vision board. Because at the end of the day it's you holding yourself back, it's you putting the work in and making things happen for the life of your dreams. 

Ritual No. 4 - Set your Goals, plan the process, Take Action.

So now is the time to put a plan into action, get that planner out, and set achievable goals throughout the year. Start small, don't overwhelm yourself. I have written my yearly goal and then broken it right down to taking that first small step towards it. So for me this Year my goal 'is to not be afraid to do things by myself, so the first step was to go for a walk by myself, I even drove to Mcdonalds one night, drove through the drive-through got my Mcnuggets, and quarter pounder meal deal and drove home. I wouldn't have done that before? maybe when I was younger but in the last few years my anxiety has taken over, I wouldn't even have done that a month ago. But I did, and it felt great and those nuggets tasted even better. So start with the simple first steps, and keep going at your own pace. 

Now I am at the end of my 3-week sick leave, I am feeling energized, motivated, prepared and ready to resume life again with a fresh head, positive mindset, and goals to reach. But I will repeat ritual no.2 when life takes over when I'm feeling overwhelmed or to just connect with myself again. Stay calm and remember why I set these goals in the first place. 

Oh while we are on the topic of rituals, Rituals the brand is opening a store here in Co. Wexford! I'm so excited, I was obsessed with my Rituals Christmas advent calendar, I want to get the whole range of 'the ritual of sakura', my favourite scent by far. Well, that is all for now, I promise I will post be posting again this year, I've set a goal to write a blog post once a month, that way it is achievable too. I'm going to go back to watching 'Queer Eye, more than a makeover, now on Netflix, in the love with the Fab Five, such a burst of positivity and good energy. 

Look after yourself, and happy Manifesting your dream year!

Steff