A Dairing Life
Reflecting on the past year: What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself

· What I wish I'd known this time last year ·

January 10, 2018 4 Comments

I’m not big on New Year’s Resolutions. But that doesn’t mean I don’t focus on self-improvement. I just don’t like saying I’m going to resolve to do a bunch of things that I don’t have measurable ways to track and reflect on. I’ve been doing a lot of self reflection the past week, and I kept coming back to the thought, “what would I want to tell the 2017 version of myself?”

2017 was filled with a lot of ups and downs, positives and negatives, triumphs and letdowns. But isn’t that just a reflection of life in general? You have to experience the lows to truly appreciate the highs. It’s just that sometimes it’s hard to be happy about what the future may hold when you living down in the lows.

But those lows taught me a lot about myself and what I’m capable of. They showed me what true, steadfast love looks like. And they showed me that it’s ok to just…be.

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself

 

It’s ok to not know what the hell you’re doing

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself

A friend shared this quote in a self-care group I’m a part of:

“Stop beating yourself up. You are a work in progress, which means you get there a little at a time, not all at once.”  – Unknown

Sometimes that unknown feels pretty…well…shitty. But it’s ok to find calm and peace in the not knowing. It’s also just fine and dandy that you don’t currently have a plan for your next step. You, my friend, are a human being, and that doesn’t come with the ability to know, understand and predict life. It’s ok to just exist. It’s ok to just be.

It’s ok to change your mind

Ever thought you wanted one thing and worked really hard to get it? And then, when it presents itself to you, you just kinda say “eh”. That happened to me, in a big way, this year. It was one of the most confusing things I’ve ever gone through.

In the end, I chose to walk away from the very thing that was, at the time, affecting just about every decision I made in my life (more on this later). So incredibly scary, but it changed my life for the better in ways I never thought could be possible.

Its ok to make a decision that makes other people unhappy or uncomfortable

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself: It's ok to make a decision that only makes you happy

Yup. I see so many posts on social media about how my generation thinks too much of themselves. That there are other people in the world. You aren’t unique, blah blah blah. And to some extent, those things are true.

However, let me tell you that you do not owe anyone the right to make decisions about your own happiness. Even if that decision makes them unhappy, uncomfortable, or even puts them at an inconvenience. I hope I didn’t lose you on that one.

Whether it’s at work or in a relationship, your happiness is important. I think we as women are so conditioned to be caregivers and mediators (myself definitely included) that we push aside our own needs at the expense of others’. You can’t make someone else happy if you can’t even achieve that for yourself.

Follow your heart

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself: follow your heart

It’s ok to follow your heart. Even when you head tells you no. Your instincts are everything.

Listen to your body

What I wish I could tell the 2017 version of myself: Listen to your body

Your health is important, both physically and mentally. If something is draining every ounce of energy out of your body and you are constantly sick, it’s a sign! Also, there is nothing wrong with self-care (no matter what that annoying article that was being shared so much last year says!).

Let’s talk – tell me one thing you wish you could tell yourself this time last year in the comments below! Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any posts, it’s going to be an amazing year!

Stay Dairing.

A Dairing Life

4 Comments

  1. Reply

    Leandi

    January 15, 2018

    Agreed. There are so many things I wish I could tell myself last year. Especially the one about not feeling guilty about your decisions.

  2. Reply

    kim

    January 13, 2018

    This post is a reminder that self care is so important! Self care is about mind,heart,body and soul, great post to bring in 2018 too!

  3. Reply

    Jade

    January 12, 2018

    Such a great post! Exactly things I wish I could tell myself too!

    • Reply

      A Dairing Life

      January 12, 2018

      Thank you! Now if only I can make sure to remember throughout the year!

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