As Cyril Cusack states “If you asked me about my new year resolution, it would be to find out who I am.”
 

The New Year’s Resolution tradition goes back to 153 B.C. when January 1st was set as the first day of the New Year on the Roman calendar. January is named after the mythical god, Janus. Janus had two faces and so he could look both forward and backward at the same time. Looking forward to the New Year ahead and backward at the successes and failures of the past year is an exercise most of us undertake at this time of year.

January holds the opportunity for a new beginning. It is the time of the year when we reflect, commit or re-commit towards old / new goals, positive habits, and projects. We promise ourselves self-improvement, happiness, ways to make a difference….we get so excited and motivated only to let go few weeks later.

I recently read an article listing the top ten resolutions of most people with the number 1 resolution is to get healthier, fit and lose weight. Others include spending more time with family, getting more organized and finding a better job. It saddened me to realize that people’s spiritual goals were not included in the top 10 list.
Have you been busy creating your New Year resolutions?  Are you resolving to do things differently this year? 
I believe that in order to truly evolve, you need to grow your spiritual muscles. I also believe that a strong spiritual life helps you achieve all your goals. True security is spiritual not physical. Your spirituality can be a great asset in helping you not only achieve your goals, cope with your challenges in a positive way but will also keep hope flowing in your life.

Here are 6 ways to develop your spiritual resolutions:

– Commit to making a difference at home, at your workplace, in your community, on the road… Resolve to commit to a goal of service to others, contributing beyond yourself.
– Be kind. Never miss an opportunity to say a kind and an encouraging thing to or about somebody.
– Count your blessings. Be happy with what you have while working towards what you want, resolve to start and end each waking day with a prayer of gratitude for your life.
– Spread love wherever you go, be cheerful and always have a reason to smile. If you find someone without a smile, give them one of yours.
– Commit to write in a journal even if it means writing down few lines of gratitude of an aha moment from the day. This practice helps reduce stress and mental blocks.
– Meditate. It doesn’t have to be long or involved, but try to make it a consistent practice, cultivate a little solitude by creating alone time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings.

Living in the moment, spending time in nature, practicing forgiveness, cultivating compassion to others etc. all these practices and kind of resolutions will support you to re-invent yourself at a level that will allow you to find meaning in your life and enhance your own sense of contribution and happiness. If you want to read more about if you are spiritually productive click on this link https://emerge-coaching.net/2016/09/05/are-you-spiritually-productive/
May this new year be a time of deep spiritual growth to all of you. Cheers to a great YOU, the sole creator of your life, wishing you to express your brilliance to the world, to Emerge and shine in 2017!!
To your happiness

Linda Chaccour 
Founder Emerge Coaching 
Happiness Consultant and Life Strategist