Ditch Your Toxic Claws with 2021
Leave your claws of toxicity and their hold on you back with 2021, and for God’s sake, just move on.
If there is any new year’s resolution to abide by, it is to leave behind everything that caused you pain previously in your past year. It does not necessarily mean to discard the memories from your mind, but to accept them and move on. You do not have to allow the claws of toxicity to sink themselves deep into your flesh; you can rip them off you and chuck them back to 2021, where they belong.
Starting a new year is meant to fill you with hope for a better 365 days. It is a new chance to be who you aspire to be, and new opportunities for you to thrive in whatever goals you set for yourself. All that is holding you back are those pesky claws of negativity that feed on your preyed mind. Why must you let them ruin your vision and drag you down with them?
As cliché as it may sound, 2022 is actually your year, if only you let it be. It is in your hands, and yours alone, to make it become the best year of your life yet. So all you must do, though it’s a lot more difficult than it sounds, is to leave all your toxicity behind, that which was inflicted upon you by others and that which you have inflicted upon yourself, and move on. Accept that these awful things have taken their course and put you through enough sadness as it is, and take charge to no longer feel this way. Soar high as you spread your wings of freedom, no longer chained by the exhaustion of being poisoned by the tar of toxicity, and fly into 2022 with a bright smile dripping with hope.
It may be a straining struggle to achieve this, but I assure you, it’s possible. Here are a few things I have done myself to redirect my path midway through 2021, and although it is a slow process, it’s yielding promising results in my case for a mentality I aspire to have someday. If you wish to have a calmer mindset, and a happier soul, perhaps the following pieces of advice, in my opinion, might aid in achieving that.
1. Journal your thoughts
I assume most of you have heard this countless times before, but you did because it’s actually helpful. It is imperative to keep a record of how you’re feeling and what you’re thinking of throughout the days of your life. Through pouring your heart out on a word document or a notebook, you are clearing your head for the chance of feeling more content. Simultaneously, you are given the gift of going back over what you’ve previously written, and admire how far along you’ve come in your personal journey of happiness. This is your life’s story, and documenting it might make you feel more in control of it, to a certain extent.
2. Read more
Knowledge is power, and that is evident when you find yourself using the words you’ve read somewhere while having a conversation with someone. Reading nourishes your mind, and allows it to keep a bank of information that will always be useful. Your mind acts as a reservoir of information that is kept safe for you to fish out and use to your advantage, and as a result, makes you feel better about yourself. Not only does reading enhance your knowledge, but it also keeps your mind intrigued by the universe you’re in, instead of feeling like nothing really stimulates your curiosity, and you’re then forced to wear the lens of a mundane reality. When in actuality, the world is so much more than you think it is. Even if you feel drawn to reading fiction, at least that is an entirely different universe than your own, and your mind dives into it and explores it with a curious and thirsty eye.
3. Get some sun, breathe some air, count your blessings
If you give yourself the time to step out of your hectic life to walk out under the sun and among the trees, you’d be startled by how much of a difference it makes on your inner peace. Hitting the pause button for at least 30 minutes every day will give you the chance to really wind down and sort out the scattered thoughts swimming in your brain chaotically. The fresh air will stimulate your mind than being cooped up in an air conditioned room all day. Plus, if you’re not an exercising fan (although exercising enhances a person’s happiness), at least you’d be moving your legs to some extent, which never hurt anybody! While you’re at it, you could find yourself counting and naming everything you have been blessed with, and that alone can have the power of lifting your spirit and easing your stressed mind. There is so much to be thankful for. This peaceful activity will let you see things from a more vivid perspective, and you’d be energised to carry on with the rest of your day.
4. Have breakfast … every day
Some of you never have the time to sit down properly and enjoy a good breakfast meal before heading off to work or school, and that’s a fundamental mistake, in my honest opinion. I understand that you need to rush, but perhaps if you slept a little earlier, you’d wake up a little earlier, and have a little more time to eat something to boost your energy in the morning. Breakfast is your foundation of your day, each day. If it’s solid and sturdy, you’d have the strength to go about your day with the right mood overpowering you. If you’re in a terrible rush to get to where you have to be, then you won’t have the time to build that foundation, and your mindset might not be in the right space. Give yourself some time to be gentle and to give your body what it needs.
5. Do something for yourself every day
No matter how busy you are, or how atrocious your day has been, you need to do at least one thing for yourself that you know makes you happy. It doesn’t need to be anything grand, but just enough to make you feel better about yourself. Whether it’s listening to your favourite song, or reading a good book, praying, watching your comfort show, going out with your friends, spending time with your kids, taking your pet for a walk — if it makes you happy, then please do it. Because when you’re having a bad day, there is nothing more comforting than seeking something that will undoubtedly bring a smile to your face.
6. Breathe before you lash out
I assure you that I understand you deeply when someone frustrates you and you’re tempted to start yelling, but trust me, it is a grave mistake. When you lash out, you’re irrational and you might end up obliterating your chances of being in the right. You might also end up hurting someone’s feelings, and then you’d feel the guilt crawling up your spine later. Instead of unleashing your angry beast, take a moment to breathe deeply, and allow your mind to process the situation. React calmly, with a clear goal, instead of screaming and obliterating everything with your harsh words. It is something I am currently working hard on achieving, and I genuinely believe that when I master this trait, I will feel a lot more content with myself and proud of myself for being gentler and sensible.
May 2022 be the year you prosper, and the year you achieve inner peace and happiness. This is your year; I can feel it! Can you?
