A new year often means new beginnings. While that may not look the same for each of us, any new beginning first requires taking an honest inventory. Embarking on the journey of self-exploration can be scary, especially when it comes to taking a clear look at ourselves. In fact, one of the bravest things we can do is to look – truly look – at who we are. Perhaps even braver than that though is to look without judgment. As humans, we judge constantly. This is likely because our brains try to put things in an order: good, bad, or neutral, so the stimulus we are met with often falls into one of those categories. For a moment though, consider the possibility of exploring yourself with curiosity instead of judgement. Consider the power of the question versus the statement. Consider the power of self-acceptance.When you begin the journey into the self, you will almost certainly be met with resistance, and the way this resistance manifests is often through shame or regret; the “shoulds” and “shouldn’t haves” tend to shape our perceptions, creating false narratives and judgment. The real challenge then, is to look at yourself with a sense of wonderment and curiosity. Be open to exploring the you that you are right now with the understanding that there is no good or bad. There is nothing you “should” be that you aren’t right now.
So, here is an invitation for a new beginning. It is an invitation to be curious and open to bravely starting the journey into self-discovery, the journey along a wild, wondrous road that only you can travel.