Happy New Year! I know a lot of us have been looking forward to a new year, a new life, a new you! After this ‘unmentionable’ past year, it can only get better from here!! It’s an opportunity for us to re-create our lives. Well, it’s a brand new package of 365 opportunities to be exact! Let’s start over, with a clean slate to start re-designing the wholesome life we want to live, together. Like one big happy global family! Shall we?!
As we are gingerly returning to a ‘new normal’ this New Year… Imagine we are going on another transformational retreat. This first month of 2021, we are preparing for a potentially life-changing trip that could be an exciting year-long adventure! Just as you would clean up, do laundry, organise, pack your bags when preparing for an actual vacation we need to clean, organise and #declutter your life as if you are organising your self for an inner excursion.
“Whatever you can do or dream you can do, begin it!
Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now!”
Goethe
Let’s start to create a supportive environment for your ‘new you’ to flourish into. Look at your life with fresh eyes and identify where you can declutter. We need to streamline every aspect of your life. Think like a minimalist: Less is more!
We need to create space for change and make room for your ‘new normal’. Like a Spring cleaning so the new growth can prosper (come spring 2021). Our outer world reflects our inner world. It’s easier and more rewarding to start in the physical world, since you see an immediate result. There are several studies proving our surroundings have a direct effect on our habits as well. Science calls it #situationalsupport.
Clear up your desk and desktop, organise the papers on your desk and documents on your desktop in a ready – acces system that makes sense to you. If you need help either ask a friend (like me), or consult the internet. It is flooded with expert ideas and practical solutions. The importance is manifested in the many stores and catalogues specialised in functional design to help you contain all your stuff. One of the basic principals of the ancient #FengShui tradition is simply #eliminating clutter.
Now let’s look at your closets. The universal 80/20 rule applies there as well. We wear 20% off our clothes eighty percent of the time. Or if you look at it from another angle: 80% of your clothes is taking up a lot of space in your closet even though you only wear it about 20% of the time. Once I realised this, I filled up bags with most of that 80% to donate. There are several charities that will benefit much more from your clothes, handbags and shoes than you ever will!
I once read an interview of a single young man who really wanted to be married and have a family. In no time he seemed to have found himself a live-in girlfriend who quickly evolved from fiancee to wife! When he was asked what he attributed the seemingly sudden change to, he responded: “I simply cleared out my closet. I figured if I wanted the right woman to show up, I needed to make space for her.”
How about your circle of friends? People. You can’t just donate them to charity like clothes, or toss them out when expired. Or can we? We can choose who we spend our limited time with, and they will determine how we look at the world and ourselves. You cannot expect to be a positive happy person if you are surrounded by negative people! In the words of motivational speaker Jim Rohn: “You are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with.” According to research by social psychologist Dr. David McClelland of Harvard University, the people you habitually associate with determine as much as 95 percent of your success or failure in life! The consequences of that statement are tremendous! In other words: you cannot expect to be a positive happy person if you are surrounded by negative people! The lesson here is that we need to actively construct a #supportivecommunity. You will need to actively re-construct your supportive community. The key to your successful transformation, might just simply be to surround yourself with people who speak your language and want you to succeed.
Find your tribe!
Now let the Feng Shui spirits of #balance and benevolent spirits of nutrition look at your kitchen… especially the foods. Our body works so hard for us every day, and needs thoughtful nourishment to keep serving us. Maybe it’s time to check labels and toss anything that is expired or unhealthy in the garbage can. If you have to have those cookies in the house, hide them in a cabinet where you might forget about them. If your sweets are on display you will be constantly reminded of their presence, and even absentmindedly eat them more often than you should. Re-design your environment to support your new healthy lifestyle by simply eliminating visual seduction. I have created an entire page on my website titled Wholesome Foods that talks more in detail about wholesome nutrition if you want more wholesome guidance on foods.
What are your most valuable assets? Most people would answer time and/or money. In order to be successful you will need to become an excellent time and money manager! There are a variety of management styles and systems we can choose from depending on our goals and priorities. Look at your life with new eyes and identify your time and money wasters.
I am an excellent Money Manager
Money management is unfortunately not taught in school. Your parents were supposed to educate you on that by example. But in most households money is not discussed with the kids. Most of us actually grow up with some monetary baggage, instead of bags of money. Your parents might have said things like “Money doesn’t grow on trees”, “What, do I look like a Rockefeller to you?!” And we have subconsciously created ideas about making money and having money. Why do you hoard stuff and save every penny you have? Why do you spend every paycheck to the last cent every time? Look at your financial habits with a new pair of eyes, and identify where you can streamline your expenses and investments. You work really hard for your money, and now it’s time to have your money start working just as hard for you.
I am an excellent time manager
Goalsetting is ultimately time management. Having your time work with your dreams and aspirations, not against it. To optimise our time we need to start by looking at how we spend our time daily. We need to identify and eliminate your biggest time wasters to become more efficient with your limited time on this planet. Time wasters indicate a lack of planning, personal organisation, self-discipline or self-management. You are wasting time whenever your attention shifts from a high to low priority task. Supposedly, your top three time wasters alone will waste up to 2 hours of your time every single day!
I AM a Feng Shui Master!
Whenever you walk into a room this month look at it with the eyes of a minimalist. Listen to your inner Feng Shui Master and notice, organise and streamline every aspect of your life. De-clutter for clarity, #transformation and #manifestation! Create room for the wholesome life you want to live this year!
Best Regards in Health and Wellbeing for the New Year and beyond,
Nathalie Francois
Feel Good, Be Good, Do Good.
Everyday this month reflect on how you could streamline your life:
- Declutter your physical environment: clean out the fridge, freezer, countertop; clear up and organise your desk and desktop, donate unused shoes and unnecessary clothing to create a supportive environment at home and in the office.
- Write down the 5 people you spend most of your time with (either in person, on the phone of via social media).
- Write down 5 people you know who demonstrate the qualities you admire and either live the kind of life you aspire for yourself or will support you in achieving your goals.
- Write down your top 3 time wasters.
- Write down your top 3 money wasters.
P.S. Did you write down your New Year Resolutions and intentions?! If you need help discovering your values, priorities and goals – hire a #lifecoach! If you are ready to change your life around, but can’t afford a life #coach at the moment – sign up for the #SUCCESS TRACK #selfcoaching program! (for the price of a book) If you’re too strapped for cash to purchase a self-coaching program… there is still a ton of support for you here! We will be offering our 40 day RESET program FREE (and hyper-condensed) on Instagram @wholesomelifeadventures starting on January 8 2021! Follow us to kick off the New Year in a Healthy New Normal with a Wholesome New You!
Our Wholesome Gift to you and yours! Please share with all your friends, family and colleagues who could benefit from this free self-coaching program – especially the youngsters you care most about! The more the merrier, and sharing is caring!
Feel Good, Be Good, Do Good.
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