Happy Sacred Sunday!
I’ll never forget the moment that forever changed the meaning of New Year’s Eve for me. I was reading an article by Randy Gage, in which he described sitting by a bonfire, letting go of past limiting beliefs, resentments, and any baggage, while setting intentions and welcoming all the abundance of a new year.
My description of his article does not do it justice, but suffice it to say it impacted me profoundly. Every word pierced through me, unveiling a vision of closing out the year I had never seen before.
That was the moment that New Year’s Eve became Sacred to me.
How beautiful that this year we get to celebrate Sacred New Year’s Eve on a Sacred Sunday.
Many people use today as an opportunity to create resolutions and set goals for the New Year.
There are countless challenges starting on January 1st promising to change your life once and for all.
It almost feels like we’re crouched down waiting for the clock to strike 12, so we can take off into our new life.
This sprinter’s mentality can be problematic, because it’s very hard to sprint on January 1st. People are usually still on vacation, in the midst of traveling, and/or still in holiday mode.
Subconsciously, this makes us feel like we lost the race even before it began. In my opinion, that’s no way to start a year.
On the other hand, have you ever seen a group as they begin a marathon?
It’s a much more relaxed environment. These people know they’re going to be running for a long time, and they have no need to sprint.
Instead, they’re more concerned with pacing themselves. They don’t want to burn out too quick.
They’re ready because they’ve been in training for this. The goal is to stay in the game so they can finish what they started. And most importantly, they know that they’re not racing against anyone other than themselves.
As the countdown approaches and you start to feel the urge to get into the sprinter’s position, I encourage you to resist the temptation.
ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET …. STOP!!!
Instead, relax and take on 2024 with a marathoner mindset by doing these three things.
1. Make today Sacred.
Reflect on this past year and write down all your successes.
Go through your camera roll and cherish the memories you’ve made, relive the good times, and be grateful for all you enjoyed.
Decide what should go into the fire: What limiting beliefs, disillusions, or baggage do you want to leave in 2023? What didn’t work this year that you don’t need to repeat next year? What identities will not serve the person you want to become? On this sacred day, let that all go.
2. Choose ONE Word.
Words are powerful. They help our brains create order in a world that is full of chaos and uncertainty. A few years ago I began a practice of choosing a word to set an intention for my year. I did this at a time when I was starting to understand the importance of language, affirmations, and how our brains work.
I found the exercise to be life-changing. In fact, having one word is what led me to creating themes for my months and living a much more intentional life.
Choosing one word is like having a North Star to help you stay aligned to what matters most to you.To ensure I don’t forget my word, I engrave it onto a bracelet and wear it year-round.
To me, this has been more transformational than any resolution I’ve ever set.
Watch this video if you want to learn more about this practice.
3. Pace Yourself.
It is important to balance the awareness that you have time (you could live to 100) and that you don’t have time (you could die tomorrow). Living with that delicate balance of urgency and patience is how you create an extraordinary experience.
New Year’s Eve is precisely that delicate balance. The passing of one more year creates urgency to start the marathon, but the patience of knowing you have time is the reminder to pace yourself and stay in it.
I hope that this article changes your perspective about New Year’s Eve the way Randy’s changed mine so many years ago. Because that’s what the project is — raising vibrations, spreading knowledge, and sharing the love — to everyone you ever come in contact with.
Thank you for being in my world and for reading these emails, year after year. I hope you’ll keep me in your inbox as we continue evolving into 2024 — but more than anything, know that I wish you all the best today and beyond.
