10 Things to Let Go of Before Welcoming a New Year

It hardly seems possible we are approaching the end of another year. Traditionally, it is a time to look back and reflect on the year that is ending, and to look forward to the one that is about to begin.

With that in mind, I thought it would be useful to compile a list of things to let go of before we welcome 2018. How many of these can you identify with?

1: NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Negative thoughts never lead to a good state of mind, do they? Before the year is up, practice becoming more aware of your thoughts. Chase away the negative ones and replace them with positive ones. By the time 2018 arrives, you’ll find it easier to begin the year and continue it in a positive frame of mind.

2: REGRETS
Regrets really do belong in the past. You cannot change anything that has already happened in your life. Make peace with it and move on.

3: FRUSTRATION
Do you get easily frustrated? Try this trick. Whenever you feel frustration rising in you, stop and slowly count to 10. It will give you enough time to let go of that frustration and see how silly it is. Reframe your thoughts and move forward more positively.

4: TOXIC PEOPLE
Most of us know at least one person who falls into this category. It can seem a nasty thing to let go of someone in your life, especially if they are a family member. But if they are toxic – if they regularly make you feel stressed, upset, and low – they aren’t doing you any good. Let them go with good grace; you might be surprised at the changes you notice in your state of mind by doing so.

5: PROCRASTINATION
A pile of ironing, an awkward conversation we need to have with someone, a dentist’s appointment… we all put things off from time to time. But we also feel a great sense of relief when we tick off those things, don’t we? Start as you mean to go on and try to leave procrastination in 2017, instead of taking it forward into the New Year.

6: COMPARISONS
Do you find you constantly compare yourself to others? Do you sometimes feel envious (or even outright jealous) of other people and how you perceive their lives to be?

It’s easy to fall into this trap, but it can only lead to dissatisfaction. You cannot know for sure how good another person’s life is from the outside. And you cannot measure it by material possessions. Focus inwards instead, and don’t waste your energy comparing your life to others.

7: MATERIALISM
We are probably all guilty of this to some extent. I don’t mean we should never have any material possessions. We need some things to live. Other material items can bring great pleasure. But if you are set on acquiring lots of things for no real reason, ask yourself why. Fewer material possessions means fewer outgoings, more money to save, less financial pressure, and a calmer life all round.

8: PAST FAILURES
This is like regrets, but specific to things you did that didn’t work out. Maybe you tried and failed to lose weight this year. Maybe you started a new business, but it didn’t work out as you’d hoped. Whatever it might be, accept what happened, learn from it, and move on.

9: MINOR ANNOYANCES
Did someone just cut you up at a turning? Did someone walk through a door you held open for them and failed to say thank you? Did it rain this morning and you ruined a new pair of shoes where they got wet and muddy?

All these things would rightly be annoying, but instead of letting that annoyance get to you, take a deep breath and shrug your shoulders. You’ll feel far less stressed if you do, and you’ll maintain a good outlook on the day too.

10: LET GO OF IGNORING YOUR INTUITION
Do you get feelings about things? Do you feel taking a certain path is the right thing to do, only to fail to follow it through? Your instinct – or gut feeling, if you prefer – has an uncanny knack of getting things right. Call it your subconscious, the part of you that speaks up when your conscious self is trying to take another route. Follow your intuition and see where it leads you as the New Year begins. You might be surprised!

All these things are different forms of baggage – sometimes physical, sometimes emotional. Letting go of them makes you feel lighter in lots of ways, not to mention more positive and settled in life.

A New Year is a great time to set new goals, and those goals could simply be about letting go of whatever doesn’t serve you well.

AUTHOR: LEANNA DOOLIN

Co – Founder of holistic skincare brand, Pure Thoughts and advocate for women finding pause in their day to breathe deeply, give thanks and reconnect to what matters. Loves early mornings, dogs and books that you can’t put down.