Anxiety, goals, and the new year

2013 has officially arrived!  It’s time to revel in the newness of the year ahead, like a new day, a clean canvas, a newborn baby.  Feelings of hope and joy spill forth as plentifully as the adult beverages.  Ringing in the new year hasn’t always been a joyous occasion for me.  In the past, I would get incredibly nervous during the last few days of December.  My anxiety about the future was debilitating and prevented me from hoping, let alone partying or celebrating.  I am proud to say that I am now in a better place and I can even kick my heels up at a New Year’s celebration.  One of my (many, many) mantras goes like this…Nobody knows what the future holds so put your energy into now.  My conquering of anxiety is an ongoing process, but now I trust that the future (which is out of my hands) will be whatever it is supposed to be.  The past is past.  Right now is where I am. My hypothetical future pain does not overpower my present bliss.

I was thinking about all of this late last night as I bit my nails while watching the ball drop.  I wasn’t actually feeling anxious at the time, but somewhere inside of me was a remnant of my 20 year old self–the girl afraid of living, afraid of tomorrow, afraid of aging, afraid of pain.  The good thing about us humans is that we can change and become better.  We can struggle for years with a debilitating disorder and then be (largely) free of it.  Maybe your better self is smoke free or takes part in a religious practice.  Maybe your better self is in an anger management or weight loss program.  Whatever, your better self looks like, I hope that you know that it is possible to be that person.  The start of the new year brings a somewhat used and banged-up, yet clean slate, making it the perfect time for new goals.

I make goals for each new year.  Last year I wanted to begin a yoga practice.  I was successful!  Yoga has become a huge de-stressor for me, a way to cope with anxiety, and get nicely toned arms. This year I’m going all out!  I found several motivational posters on Pinterest that I have adapted to fit my personal growth goals for the new year.  I don’t expect to fully achieve these goals within 2013, but they are definitely worth striving for!

1) In 2013 I will be gentler with myself.  I will stop being my biggest critic.

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2) In 2013 I will be more flexible and trusting.

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3)  In 2013 I will simplify my life.

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4) In 2013 I will practice being present in each moment.

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5) In 2013 I will grow my faith.71916925269155907_88tECXjZ

6) In 2013 I will turn my mistakes into lessons.

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7) In 2013 I will laugh without fear of the future.

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Other goals for 2013 include:

  • Save money
  • Go back to Europe
  • Make a baby
  • Continue yoga
  • Stay in school

It appears that I’m going to be a busy lady.

What’s your resolution or goal for 2013?

XO, Tobi

*note: if i could find a source for the above images, i linked it with the image.  if there is no link, there was no source other than pinterest.

Category : Advice, Anxiety, Blogging, Counseling, Holidays, Life, self-love, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Words, Worry
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