2025 - New Year, New Me?
Happy New Year to our beloved Freo Family!
ONE: Little Celebrations
The first New Year's resolution we'd like to invite you to make is to have little celebrations. We are so used to our daily habits and the pressures we or others put on ourselves, that it is time to celebrate small victories everywhere. This resolution is exactly what it sounds like - celebration! - and it can have many positive effects.
For example, on your energy: Shame is a drain on energy. Celebration can put an end to it. Have you achieved something you have been working towards for a long time? Invite people over or talk to someone on the phone about your journey and how happy you are with the result. You made it out of the house when you wanted to stay on the sofa? Celebrate yourself! You were afraid and pushed through anyway? Treat yourself to something small or cook your favourite meal and be proud of yourself.
Actively.
Remember what you are capable of and make it a celebration.
Further, your own perspective on yourself and your journey can change. Positive self-talk, being proud of yourself and how you feel should be consistent with what you have experienced. Incorporate this into your daily life. Take pride in the smallest things and say to yourself: "I have managed to do this really well.”
Small celebrations can also go a long way in your community or in how you view your support system. It is inspiring to see someone being positive about their own situation. Talking about yourself and celebrating yourself can give energy to everyone else and make them feel seen too. By celebrating, your community will know where you are in life and when you need support, but they will also be there for you to celebrate and you can create new memories or social circles. And don't forget to spread the love and let others know how great they are too! Did you like the bread you got from the bakery? Tell them! Did you like someone's energy? Tell them! Celebrate their positives and achievements as much as you celebrate yours.
Use 2025 as an opportunity to overcome shame by celebrating yourself a little in everyday life.
TWO: Be Where Your Feet Are.
This may sound easier than it is, but another resolution we recommend is the practice of being present.
It is not uncommon to experience feelings of anxiety when we consider the challenges or potential future outcomes that lie ahead, or when we reflect on past situations that we feel could have been handled better. Try to remember where you are: in the present - The present being the place where you are standing with your feet at this very moment.
Think about it: if you fear failure, long for stability in chaos, or strive for perfection, it's time to acknowledge where you are, start one step at a time, and work from there towards your goals. If you find yourself thinking negatively about yourself or your future, it might be helpful to take a step back and ask yourself: could the opposite also be true?
As we mentioned - it sounds easier than it is, so let us share with you two small and simple mindfulness exercises that can help you come back to yourself when you feel overwhelmed.
Look at the objects around you and describe them in detail. What is their shape? What colours do they have? What do you see? What do you hear and smell? Attempt to focus on whatever is in front of you.
Focus your attention on the present moment by taking a mental photograph of your surroundings with your eyes: Simply close your eyes and let your mind and thoughts wander through the area, landscape, or room you are in. As you do this, try to remember as many details as you can. When you open your eyes again, you may find that it helps you to come back from wandering or difficult thoughts.
THREE: Relax!
Last but not least: Relax! We're talking about every aspect of you: your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social self, and we want to gently introduce these changes into your daily life so that they become a natural part of it.
Physical
Try to fit activity into your daily life. Doesn't sound very relaxing? It is not meant to be overly demanding; it is designed to fit seamlessly into your daily routine: Every bit of exercise helps reduce stress and is a step towards feeling more balanced.
Get off at an earlier bus stop and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs instead of the lift. Don't like walking around without a destination? Go for a walk to the supermarket. It might be worth exploring other ways to relax and take care of your body, like taking a hot bath, sleeping, going to a sauna or having a massage.
Mental
Practice gratitude and be specific about what you are thankful for. When we recognize and appreciate the good things in our lives, we can cultivate a sense of gratitude.
This can be a conscious practice, where we intentionally focus on the positive and express gratitude for it: Take an empty jar and, at the end of each week, write down something you are grateful for on a piece of paper. Place it in the jar. At the end of the year you will have a jar full of things you are grateful for, and you will see how many things bring you joy and how much you actually have.
It can also be about relaxing your mind and getting lost in another world by reading a book. A clean environment can reduce mental stress, and meditation improves the ability to concentrate.
Emotional
It's time to start checking in with yourself and recognizing your emotions! This one goes hand in hand with little celebrations (Resolution Nr. One).
Make a habit of taking a few minutes in the morning, midday, and/or evening to tune in to how you're feeling. This may help you to identify what in your daily routine has become a habit that you no longer enjoy, or that you do without realising that you have outgrown it. By practising awareness of your behaviours, thoughts and actions, you can become more resilient and spot warning signs your body communicates with you.
Choose to embrace the full range of your emotions: Welcome vulnerability as a sign of courage, integrity, passion and emotional access. Overcome shame to facilitate creativity, motivation, trust, humour, open-mindedness and allow emotions to find outlets.
Get creative and explore your emotions in different ways: Write in your journal, talk about emotions with a friend, watch something that matches your mood, or sing!
Ease your emotional self.
Spiritual
Take some time out of each week to visit something scenic. Maybe get up early to watch the sunrise, set aside some time to get together with your closest friends and look at the stars, or just plan a trip into nature. Reconnect with nature and let your eyes wander through the beauty of the colour spectrum and the little miracles we encounter when we are able to see the smallest things that nature has to offer.
If you want, practise a personal symbolic language with the universe so it can communicate with you. As humans, we share the use of symbolic language, and it is one of our most striking forms of expression. This is nothing new! One of the most prominent examples is religious symbols. They are used to convey concepts concerning humanity's relationship to the sacred or holy. It can take many forms and represents a multitude of beliefs. If you are religious, engage with your favourite ritual and spend some time on prayer and thanksgiving. Symbolic language can vary and be as unique as you are.
Try to embrace your spiritual side in a way that is right for you, and try to find some rest in it.
Social
Meet people, even in social places like the supermarket or library. Call someone or plan a holiday. We thrive in a supportive environment. Practice acknowledging the gestures others make to us. Make sure you consider your values, ideals and personal capabilities, as well as realistic expectations of others. You may want to join a group that doesn't require a lot of talking. Close relationships and social connections are a great way to manage daily or chronic stress and maintain your mental health and well-being.
"Daughter. Spend your life Loving. Not seeking Love. Ocean need not seek water."
- Daughter Drink This Water by Jaiya John