Step Into you.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk out of this year and into the next as the very best version of yourself? Someone who can enjoy exactly who they are, at the age they are, while achieving their full potential?
Everyone is struggling. For one person, it might be anxiety; for another, it might be self-worth. Our parents and how they raise us have a profound impact on our sense of self and who we believe we are. As we mature, we can reflect on our upbringing and actively choose which values and beliefs to embrace or reject, shaping our own identities.
Whatever you are struggling with, do you just accept that this is who you are, or do you do something about it? You can do something about it. My story is that my mother was a very anxious person. Unintentionally, because of her fears, she sent out a vibe that you have to live life very carefully, or disaster could be right around the next corner. I always had the feeling that I should not take chances, that I had to live life very carefully, and that was very limiting for a young person—especially when that is usually the age when you are full of adventure. But it wasn’t until I started feeling anxious myself in my 20s and 30s that I took a good look at why and did something about it.
You are not your parents. Your parents saw the world through their eyes, and once you understand where bad feelings might be coming from, where it all started, then you can look at the world with your own eyes. You can understand that your parents’ thoughts are not your thoughts. Thoughts are just stories we tell ourselves based on everything our brain has heard and seen, and they don’t have anything to do with who we really are. Think of your brain as a form of artificial intelligence, just gathering up everything you were ever exposed to. Certain situations will trigger particular thoughts. But just because you think them, does not make them real. Once you can understand that they are only thoughts, you can let them pass by like clouds in the sky.
The more attention you give to any particular thought, the more weight it has, and the more real it will feel. So, you do not want to give any weight to negative thoughts at all. Giving weight only to your positive thoughts can change your life. Negative thoughts can make you miserable, while positive thoughts can help you be who you now are and achieve all of your potential.
Changing your thinking can be incredibly powerful for older adults. Allow yourself to change the view you have of yourself. Give yourself permission to see yourself in a new light. The person you are now is not the person you were when you were young. How could it be? Years of experiences have occurred and molded who you are now. You have more inner strength and vision. You have more knowledge and abilities. Step into this next year focusing on who you are now, not who you used to be. Believe in yourself—you are full of unlocked potential. You now have the ability to see yourself through eyes that are full of all your own life experiences. Forget who you thought you were and explore who you are now.