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Dreamscape Jewelry Design

January 1, 2023: The Magic of New Beginnings

Along with the tradition of New Year’s parties and champagne toasts, the beginning of a new year comes with a magical combination of anticipation, excitement and reflection, inspiring thoughts of potential new beginnings.  Looking back at the previous twelve months, we can take time to reflect on the highs and lows, celebrating the positive gifts that life brought us and considering what changes we want to make in the coming year. Making resolutions is one way to take what we’ve experienced with the lessons learned, to make the necessary changes we need to accomplish our dreams, improve our health and relationships, and to hopefully create a more fulfilling and meaningful life.

While resolutions can have a high failure rate, we can be more mindful in creating goals for ourselves that are both realistic and relevant. Like any goals we set, there are practical aspects to consider like finances, other responsibilities, and time constraints which can dampen our enthusiasm, But taking the time to determine what resolutions meet our capacities, interests and needs is a worthy endeavor, ensuring greater chances of success. Resolutions can encompass all aspects of our life from personal relationships, physical health, finances, spiritual growth, and work, to fulfilling our long held dreams. Determining where we ultimately want to focus our attention, energy and time can be a daunting task, but asking ourselves pertinent questions can help to clarify our direction and set us on the path that is right for us.

Sample Guiding Questions:

  • What truly motivates you?
  • What brings you the most joy?
  • What were you the most proud of this past year and why?
  • What aspects of your life cause the most stress and how can you rectify it.
  • If you’ve had resolutions fail in the past, what were the reasons why. How can you avoid the same pitfalls?
  • What was the most enjoyable part of your work?
  • What was the most challenging part of your work?
  • What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year? i.e.playing endless games on my phone
  • What was the best way you used your time this past year?
  • What was biggest thing you learned this past year?
  • What is a dream you have been holding on to and what would it be like to have come true?

Some tips for success:

Make your resolutions clear and able to be measured. Simply saying “I’m going to get in shape” can be too nebulous. Be more specific. For example, instead choose a goal that can be easily measured; for example, walking three times a week. Upon reflection, one of the things that causes me the most stress is not being able to find things when I need them, whether it’s in my house or studio. I’ know that to be more organized I need to be more orderly. The only way I can be more organized is if I make the commitment to routinely take the time to declutter and put things away after use. All the how-to articles on organization won’t help, unless I personally make the commitment to improve. It’s a humbling thought to think about how much precious time I waste searching for missing items.

Focus on an area you want to improve. One goal I had last year was to become a better watercolor painter. This resolution led to the reaffirming and rewarding experience of taking a weeklong class with a talented teacher. The decision required both a financial and time commitment, but ultimately became a memorable highlight for 2022. Making a commitment to paint weekly is something I can build into my schedule.

Make sure your goals are meaningful and relevant to you. Each one of is unique with our own individual abilities, desires, hopes, interests, needs and wants. Reflecting on what brings us joy can help to prioritize the choices we make or changes that need to happen. Creating a goal that doesn’t “fit” is an exercise in futility. Saying “I could” rather than “I should” changes the motivation from guilt to positive affirmations.

Celebrate the successes. In addition to the feelings of accomplishment, giving ourselves small rewards for reaching a milestone can add to the enjoyment of the whole process. When I finish cleaning out and organizing the studio (which looks like a hurricane whipped through it), I will celebrate by treating myself to a visit to a favorite coffee shop with a beloved friend.

However you choose to greet the new year, make a resolution to live your best life. Here are some quotes to inspire you on next year’s journey around the sun.

We spend January 1st walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives … not looking for flaws but for potential.

Ellen Goodman

You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.

C.S. Lewis

Approach the New Year with resolve to find the opportunities hidden in each new day.

Michael Josephson

Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year, make a resolution to be yourself.

Anonymous

You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.

Martin Luther King

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

New year — a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it. The choice is ours.

Alex Morritt

Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties.

Helen Keller

With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.

Eleanor Roosevelt

Thank you for taking the time to read our blog. Give wings to your dreams and let them come true in 2023. Wishing you good health, peace, love, and laughter in the new year.

Wendy and Ron

Comments

  • Susan Joan Gibb
    January 2, 2023

    Thank you for your inspirations. Looking forward to the 2023 Crafts Fairs in Meredith. Happy New Year.

    reply

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