I love this quote. I think we often forget that we are, in fact, in charge of our own actions, obligations, path and happiness. As the New Year quickly approaches, you owe it to yourself to think about the things you’re happy with in your life and things you want to change.

STOP:
-Playing the victim card
-Making excuses
-Letting society tell you how to live
-Relying on others to make you happy
-Doubting Yourself

START:
-Enjoying alone time
-Turning off gadgets and go outside
-Positive thinking
-Believing in yourself
-Making your own happiness
-Expressing your creativity
-Acknowledging your desires/dreams/wishes
-Make everything you want happen
-Making your own happiness tips
-Helping others realize they can make their own happiness. Like this

What are the things you want to STOP and START in your life? My tips for identifying these things would be figuring out what parts of your life you’re not happiest with and determining how to eliminate what contributes to them. After doing this, what can help you replace that contribution with a positive? Here’s my own example, which I hope comes as relatable and easy to understand and apply:

In the upcoming year, I’d like to stop doubting myself. Often I find that this happens because I lose confidence in situations where I’m unsure or afraid of the outcome. Sometimes I don’t express things that I should to people I care about, in fear that their response won’t be what I’d like it to be or what I think is fair. I assume the worst. How I’m going to work on this {adding my positive}, is reminding myself that the reason I care about these people and the reason they’re in my life is because I know them to be good people, who add value to my life and the world around them. Why should I make the decision in my mind for someone, without giving them the opportunity to prove me wrong or help open my perspective?

I think a lot of the things we should stop doing in our lives all relate back to one thing: selfishness. When we only think about ourselves, typically the things that can come from here are negativity or unhappiness. When we’re selfish, the view from the inside outward always shows us being the victim, making excuses, putting fault on others and ultimately pointing the finger the other way. To become your BEST SELF you must look inward… And figure out what stops are keeping you from starting.

What will you STOP and START doing going into 2015? My advice is stop selfish activities and replace them with thoughts, feelings and actions that make you feel good and spread positivity.

Start 2015 with a New Years sparkle ✨

Happy Holidays,
-Aurora Beani