Your true essence...

I think it's safe to say a very big "HAPPY NEW YEAR" wish is in order... better late than never, right?! At any rate, with a new year always comes good ol' resolutions... diet, exercise, finally quitting those bad habits, etc., etc... but I feel as though a new year is a great time to start over with your "better self" plan in general, and that to me always means first and foremost re-evaluating who YOU truly are. So I have decided that with this new year, I am working on the new me. The improved and better me. The empowered and more optimistic me. Hoping to become the best me I have ever been. Not necessarily changing myself in any major ways, yet simply getting down to the true essence of me and who I really am. Advice to myself and what I am constantly working on: Be an individual, be yourself. Truly unique and one of a kind... like no other. We have all heard this many times, but for some, it is easier said than done. The whole idea of it is great, but actually getting down to it and making the appropriate changes, coming to the right realizations and really being just you can seem like a very daunting task. The key to making this happen is actually knowing who YOU are, and it isn't always an easy thing to figure out. One of the most important things I think is to come up with and think long and hard about the true essence of yourself. Where do you come from? What specific events in your life have helped to shape the person you have become and how did they get you to where you currently are? Who do you surround yourself with? And how do you feel when you are with them? It is important to spend a lot of time thinking about and talking to yourself and decide what has made you who you currently are. In thinking about a lot of things in your past and that currently surround you, it becomes more clear as to how you got to where you are today. Do you like yourself? Who you have become? Because no one but you has the power to change that or be the true you better than yourself. I think all too often many people fall victim to the media and looking to other people when figuring out who they are. The most common mistake I feel is that individuals let the media and other people's opinions, views and morals come into play within their own life and in turn adapt to a set of something that they may not fully identify with but do it simply because it is actually easier than coming up with your own ideas. Everyone needs their own unique code. By this I mean a set of values, morals, ethics and views that are all your own and that you identify with most. Sure you can, and probably will, have the same or similar items in your code list as some other people, but what really sets us all apart is that no two codes will ever totally be identical. I think that a lot of time, as much free time as you can give, should be devoted to yourself. It is impostant to figure out when and where you can fit time in for you... just you... time to go inside and reflect, think, meditate... time to pamper and treat yourself right. I feel that being one with yourself has become a lost art in this busy and stressful society. When did you become less important than say, your significant other? Than your sister or mother? Than your best friend, child or boss? You are truly all you've got and that cannot be forgotten or ignored... ever. Take time to get to know yourself. Get to know what you like to eat, wear, what makes you truly feel good... what gives you warm fuzzies or butterflies in your stomach? Find out what makes you really tick. I believe that it's important to get to know yourself very well. And do not let other things or people influence you in making those decisions. After all, it's about figuring YOU out... why would anybody else have a say in it? I think all too often people tend to let society and/or other people influence them as to how they feel, what they like, where they go, where they shop, what they buy and who they hang out with. It doesn't matter if society or your next door neighbor says that something isn't cool or popular or trendy... if you like it or it makes you truly happy, then it does not matter and will not affect you. That's the greatest thing about coming up with your own unique code, once you have it, no one else can change or affect it. You will always be you. no one can change that. And with the code, you will automatically know what works for you and what doesn't because you will have a better understanding of what you are all about, your true essence. And then, only then, can you offer your true, whole, honest self to your family, partner and friends and then in turn have the opportunity to enhance all of your life experiences... with yourself and others. How beautiful! XOXO