Between the sparkling firework bursts and the drop of the enormous Time’s Square crystal ball, 2022 has finally arrived. We waited for this past year, filled with fear, isolation, and loss, to end. Finally, it is time to take a well-earned deep, slow, cleansing breath. Fill your lungs to their total capacity while you count to ten. Feel your breath push out your abs and raise your shoulders. Allow possibility, hope, and self-love to fill every cell of your being. Then slowly release your breath, letting loneliness, despair, and fear float away while you count to six.

Allow this to be a truly new year. A lingering awareness of the pandemic’s rules and concerns haunts us as we attempt to determine our forward path. Words like Delta, variant, and Omicron have forced their way into our vernacular. Push that newly acquired awareness momentarily aside and appreciate the passing of one year and the birth of the next. A quiet moment will create space between your previous thoughts and the present moment.

For most, New Year’s Eve marks the exploration into the 2022 Resolution list project. This focusing tradition often causes anxiety instead of encouragement. Many believe the opportunity ultimately leads to a feeling of failure instead of hope.

It does not have to be that way. As you sit, pen in hand or computer keys under your fingertips, prepare to focus your resolutions in the energy of kindness.

Caryn’s 5 Tips for Creating Your New Year’s Resolution List:

1. Blanket every concept with self-kindness.

Keep the focus of each resolution on the most important person–you. Allow your ideas to foster a heightened belief in your abilities. Try something along the lines of–I promise to appreciate my love of reading and create one hour per week to do just that. Are you looking for love? Focus on yourself first, and love will find you.

2. Focus your resolutions so that they strengthen your self-care.

Instead of hoping for changes in your loved one’s behavior, try to resolve to create personal emotional space. When negatively triggered, take a moment to think of a time you felt particularly loved and cared for, take a long candlelit bath with your favorite tunes on your headphones or go for a walk, surrounded by nature. These small choices will create chemical changes within your brain and gently allow you emotional space.

3. Keep your goals measurable.

Whether you focus on creating a healthier lifestyle, setting steps toward increased sleep, arranging healthy changes to diet and exercise, it is paramount to baby-step your way up to and then into the process. Write down your goals and some necessary steps to achieve what you desire.

4. Keep your goals gentle, reasonable, and attainable.

In his book, Thrive State: Your Blueprint for Optimal Health, Longevity, and Peak Performance, Dr. Kien Vuu reminds us that negative mindsets harm our physical health. Chronic stress alters our microbiome, creating possible sleep disturbances, agitated eating, racing thoughts, risky behaviors, and physical and emotional illness.

5. Love yourself throughout the process. Create a no-shame zone.

Your light is unique and brighter than the grandest fireworks display. You deserve caring, kindness, gifts, adventures, and love–all that you give to yourself in heaping portions each day.

Happy New Year, everyone. I hope that we can communicate throughout this year and support each other as we create our journey through 2022.