The new year is about to begin. Instead of lamenting what could have been, be excited for what could be!

While taking breaks and relaxing are essential components of self-care, it can be abused when it becomes a way to escape from real-life problems, commitments or responsibilities. Constantly avoiding challenges or difficult emotions in the name of self-care can hinder personal growth and problem-solving. Escapism is not necessarily self-care.

It’s not about not experiencing negative self-talk or not experiencing uncomfortable life events. Eventually, you panic less and less until you hardly speak negatively to yourself. In the beginning, once you identify that you speak untruths in your mind, let it happen. Do not suppress or judge it. HOWEVER, correct it immediately to a more constructive tone! IMMEDIATELY. It will take a lot of energy, and you will correct yourself a lot at first, but if you’re consistent and stick to it for as long as it takes, you will get better at it, and you will eventually only (or primarily) speak respectfully and honestly with yourself.

Motivation comes from knowing the self because what motivates me is not what motivates another. Knowing what gives you that payoff, that thrill, that pleasure, and that sense of accomplishment is how you will learn to get up and do it! Motivation might elude you if you do not invest time in knowing yourself and the type of animal you are.

If you don’t know what stops you from completing a task or what makes you say one thing and do another - you will struggle to control much of what happens to you