Seeing The New Year As An Opening

It’s 2022, I better get going on my resolutions. Don’t want to be left behind!

Make It So

As 2022 begins, rather than feel pressure to set goals, make resolutions, meet others’ expectations, or focus on what hasn’t been done in 2021, let’s look at the new year as an Opening. Oprah greets the new year this way, “Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” The focus shifts from pressure to promise, opportunity and new beginnings.

Looking at the new year as an Opening frees us to dream, plan and set our own expectations of what we want this year to be. There is no constriction in an Opening. We are the ones who look through the Opening and decide if what we see is what we want for our year. If not, we continue to look for an Opening that excites and fulfills us.

Looking at the new year as an Opening also allows us to set our focus and make it work. We are in control and can make the new year what we want it to be.

Open Space

Creating open space in our lives is so important. Open space involves giving ourselves time without expectation. We are free to wander and see what shows up. As the new year begins, we can give ourselves some open space and begin to explore.

Open space allows us to look at our lives and dreams from any angle – high above at 10,000 feet, at eye level, from outside our normal environment and with new eyes. We take ourselves out of our everyday environment to find a fresh perspective on our lives. We open ourselves to change and doing things differently.

Here are some ways to create open space:

• Take a day to hang out and be alone with yourself, doing things you love to do. See what thoughts or insights show up.
• Do “nothing” for a day. Sit in nature, be home on your own, go to a quiet place – maybe a museum, a spiritual center or church, a public garden, the beach. Think about the year ahead – what you want it to be, what will make you happy, what you want to accomplish. Stay open and see what shows up.
• Do some automatic writing. Write a question related to your new year. Sit quietly and stay open – write down what comes to you.
• Do something you have never done before. It will expand you and change your perspective. Take some time after you do it to reflect on the experience.