06 Aug Resolve to do good for yourself
With the start of a new year comes the return of good resolutions. We’re starting to know them all too well, because they’re always the same: get back into sport, go on a diet… You’ll notice that they all have one thing in common: they impose constraints, and inevitably, after a while, lacking motivation, we give up on them. Adopt Gandhi’s precept: “Be the change you want to see in the world”. In fact, this year you could decide to innovate and do yourself some good. You’ve decided to take care of yourself and adopt a positive attitude. As a result, you’ll see that everyone around you will feel better too, and who knows, maybe you’ll finally be able to put those other not-so-motivating resolutions to good use. To start with, you could make the most of every moment with full awareness, in order to increase your subjective happiness. We’ve already talked about this on this blog in relation to your life as a waking couple. There’s nothing to stop you from starting with the emotional side of things, and you’ll be even more ready to deal with the other aspects of your life. Doctors Zermati and Apfeldorfer have adapted the practice of mindfulness as part of their dietary guidance, and other scientific studies have confirmed these very positive results. You need to be aware and attentive to the present moment. The more you accept things with kindness and without judgment, the more you’ll enjoy every moment and every action you take, even if you think they’re insignificant at first. Here’s a simple tip for adding something positive to your life: buy a small notebook and write down three positive things you’ve seen or done every night before you go to bed, such as the gentleman who opened the door for you with a smile, or the words you exchanged with an elderly person. You’ll find that you’ll sleep much better and gradually escape the prevailing gloom. We often say “I don’t have time” when it comes to looking after ourselves and others. This phrase means “I give priority to other occupations”, which often mainly concern my professional life. What if you chose to really focus on the things you love and that are important to you, without feeling guilty about it? These include getting a massage, treating yourself to a spa treatment, eating a good pastry, having a drink with friends, creating jewelry, getting involved with a charity… and even enjoying the sunshine during your lunch break. Remember that taking care of yourself will make you happy, and taking care of others will make you happier.