Love

My word for 2015 is love.

In 2014 my word was acceptance. I felt I had fought against life all through 2013 and needed to just stop. Stop drinking, stop dieting, stop trying to control everything, stop obsessing, stop hating myself. And find a way to just accept things as they are. Period.

Acceptance guided me well in 2014. It has helped me become a calmer, happier and more content person. When I start to veer back into controlling mode, I ask myself if I am being accepting of myself. And it helps guide me to the next right action.

As the year wound down I began to think about a word for 2015. At yoga the teacher often asks us to set an intention for our practice. Mine was always acceptance, but in the last few weeks it has become love. Love for yoga, love for myself, love for those around me. And so, my word is love.

I thought hard about stillness. My mantra is stillness and peace. When I am overwhelmed or anxious I think – I breath in stillness and it gives me peace. It works beautifully. But I think this will be a lifelong mantra, so I decided not to use stillness for 2015.

For many years I believed that the way to success was through doing more, proving myself to be better and pushing harder. I bought into doing it all. Harder, faster, sharper. No pain no gain.

The last year has shown me that gentle and kind works better than rules, self criticism and a big stick. That acceptance and love of myself and others, as I am and as they are, is truly the secret to peace and happiness.

And so begins my year of love. For us all.

Stillness and peace

Anne