New Year, New Chance to Love the True You Jan 2024
“Slowly we work and slowly we play. The songs we sing are slower. Lullabies to a dying year, love songs to the new. Warmth consumes and we scurry indoors, hover over stoves and hearths, sipping soups and stews. Laughter comes in bursts gathered around tables and bonfires and wine flows freely, red as blood, warming muscles, loosening lips and the stories come from remembrances of times’ past.” ~Jen Chandler |
The end of the year tends to be filled with messages of fresh starts and bold changes, encouraging us to immediately jump into new endeavors. What if, instead, we savored the moments and days a little more; had less action into what needs to change and more focus on what is. January’s message is an invitation to focus on the present moment while getting in touch with who and where you are at this moment.
What do you value? What are your passions? Where and when do you feel the most YOU? Think in terms of authenticity; the person defined beyond status, job titles, family roles, and daily routines. So many of us lose touch with the genuine, individual spark that shines within us all. We get caught up in the going-ons of life, but there are many ways to quiet, still, and uncover the voice within calling to live from the heart.
This newsletter seeks to break down ways in which you can bring personal and creative touches to daily living in a new and invigorating way! Keep reading for ways to make the most of this turning over of a past year, and rolling into a new one hopeful and open. L.I.F.E. supports you in the New Year and everyday!
Why is it Important to Live Intentionally?
Mental health and wellness is an epidemic in our world.
Depression and anxiety plagues adults, teenagers and even children.
Studies show that 1 in 3 adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder and 63% of college students feel overwhelming anxiety and childhood mental health is on the rise.
The world is becoming aware of the fact that people, companies, and communities must start investing in EMOTIONAL WELLNESS to better the overall health and wellness of themselves, their families, their communities and the world.
As always we want to remind you all that HELP IS AVAILABLE!
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:Call 988 or Send a Text to 988
24/7 Crisis hotline: 1-844-534-HOPE (4673)
Text the word "HOME" to 741741 for crisis support via text
Burnout prevention
Our mission at L.I.F.E. is to reduce burnout and suicide rates of those working in the healthcare and first responser industry through education, awareness, and support.
More and more research shows that when stress is matched with wellness and restorative activities, burnout lessens.
Burnout compounds when stressors are ignored over time and are allowed to build up. Making time for self-care becomes critical. The following article helps highlight ways to boost self-care.
Avoiding unbalance
Unfortunately, so many people have not been taught how to live an intentional life but rather have been taught this ‘hustle’ / ‘be the best’ mentality which has contributed to the emotional un- balance and mental health concerns in our world.
Although there are many things we are unable to control in our world, we are responsible for our lives and as a society and as individuals, we can begin to take the steps to care for our mental and emotional wellness.
If you are interested in learning how to set intentions and start living a more intentional life then I encourage you to sign up for my free Intention Setting workbook where I walk you through 5 steps to setting intentions for your life.
Winter Wellness Tips
Eat healthy foods
Stay hydrated
Get some sunlight and spend time outdoors
Keep warm with a cozy blanket
Maintain a healthy sleep schedule
Socialize with friends and loved ones
Get active through exercise, hiking, or snow sports
Take care of a plant
Maintain a regular schedule
Journal your thoughts and feelings
Adapted from How to Fight Winter Blues: Tips from our Emotional Wellness Team, hcz.org
Create Your Own Winter Wellness Recipe:
Think about the challenges of winter and brainstorm ways to ease them.
Consider what nourishes you, fills your cup, and feeds your emotional and physical well-being.
Come up with 5-10 ingredients from your nourishments to put in your recipe for optimal winter wellness.
Create a visual to help you remember your ingredients throughout the winter.
Hang your recipe somewhere in your home and maybe set a timer on your phone to help remind you to utilize your recipe.
For more information, please see the following article
Vision Boards
How Does A Vision Board Work?
The magic lies in the process of visualization.
When you focus on your goals through visual representations, it activates the reticular activating system (RAS) in your brain.
This filtering mechanism helps you stay focused on what truly matters, while filtering out distractions. By keeping visual reminders of your aspirations, your subconscious mind stays aligned with your goals.
Vision boards work because what you focus on expands.
Why is Visualization so Powerful for Your Brain?
Visualization is not about simply placing images on a board to “manifest” what you want or relying solely on “the law of attraction.” It taps into the power of your brain.
Your reticular activating system (RAS) acts as the filtering station of your brain. Constantly seeing the images on your vision board helps your brain filter out distractions while focusing on what truly matters to you. By keeping visual reminders of your goals, your subconscious mind stays aligned with your aspirations.
When you create a vision board and place it where you can see it every day, you naturally engage in short visualization and goal-setting exercises throughout the day. It becomes second nature, and you may not even realize you’re doing it.
L.I.F.E.’s happiest moments in the past year:
Upcoming Events:
Keep an eye out for our upcoming Vision Board Event on January 28th, as well as information regarding our clothing drive towards the end of January 2024.
Donations
Support a cause that matters to you! Your donation can make a difference in the lives of those in need. Join us in creating positive change today.
Consider contributing to a nonprofit organization to support their mission. Your donation can help them make a meaningful impact in areas such as burnout prevention, health, wellness, suicide prevention, and more. Every contribution, no matter the size, plays a vital role in making a difference.
L.I.F.E. wishes to thank you for your continued generosity through volunteering, donations, time, and interest in the cause.
Here’s to a Safe and Happy New Year!
