HELLO 2019!!! This entry is a bit late. 5 days late to be exact. Well better late then never. Before we jumped into the spirit of 2019, lets recapped back on what has happened in 2018 and go through this exercise. Think about what has happened throughout the year. Ponder and delve on it but not too deep. Take it all in on the good memories. Cherish it and keep it at a special place in our heart. Hmmm that was a nice feeling isn’t it?. Kudoss to #thebestnine apps for almost! ALMOST getting all my best nine right for 2018!
NOW, lets go to the not so pleasant one that had happened in 2018. I know by now your mood might be changing a little? Its OK. That is what makes us special. We are human. Feel it. What can you learn from it? How does it make you feel? What have you become from that experience? What can you do for improvements in the future? Self-reflect upon yourself. Now take all the bad memories and imagine it into an object. For me I’m imagining them as poop. Haha. I know its grosssss!! Hey I can’t help it! Its the first thing that came through my mind! I’m sorry. Mind you! haha. Ok now gather all those little poopies and throw ’em down the toilet. FLUSH IT!!! Go away you little poopies. Geez..that was quite a lot!
For me 2018 have past so fast. It was definitely an ultimate peak year of my phenomenal existence! It was a year of TEST. I was tested one after another by the almighty. That was the year i quit my 10 years job as an engineer (My pride and joy). That was the year I took on solo trips (well i have been on trips alone before but it was more on business trips). That was the year my parents were tested with their health. That was the year I lost 2 of my aunties due to cancer. (Al-fatihah. I’m literally tearing while writing this). HOWEVER that was the year I felt ALIVE! That was the year I reconnected back to my creator. That was the year I explore and travel as much as I can. That was the year I met a lot of new friends! That was the year I challenge my fear and break through from my comfort zone. It was definitely a bitter sweet year. Bitter sweet like my favorite salted caramel chocolate cake with a nice cup of hot latte. ?
I was never a fan of making New Year resolutions. However for a new me, I think it’s not too late to start making one. There’s nothing like starting the year with a clean slate, knowing you have a year full of possibilities and opportunities ahead. Just write down all the things that you want to achieve. Whether you will achieve it or not is another thing. But psychologically when you have jot down all your aspirations and goals, it will register in your subconscious mind and without you ever knowing it, you have already begun to go for it. So try it. Why not?
Below are the 5 tips to kick start your year in a lighter and brighter direction that I’d encounter on the internet and I am excited to share it with you.
1. Let it go!!
Leave the past in the past and make peace with any wrong doings against you. Don’t hold onto grudges that do nothing but drain your positive energy. Free yourself from this negativity and you’ll be able to move forward lightened from the burden of anger. Say “sorry” to anyone you have wronged, whether it’s face to face, with a message or through an act of kindness.
“And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous who spent (in the cause of Allah) during ease and hardship and who restrain from anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good”
2. Less really is more
It’s amazing how much “stuff” we accumulate and hold on to. Keep your surroundings simple and uncluttered and this will reflect on your emotional well being too.
De-clutter and get rid of clothes, toys and those bits and pieces that you don’t love or need. Donate as much as possible and make some extra cash by selling items that are too good to throw awat. Then the real tricj is to not replace everything you’ve just cleared out with new stuff!
“Wealth is not in having many possessions. Rather, true wealth is the richness of the soul.” (Bukhari 6081, Sahuh Muslim 1051)
3. Mindful = Grateful
It’s easy to get caught up in where we want to be, what we’d like to have, what we’d like to do and forget about the here and now. Happiness comes from being content with what you have and where you’re at right this moment. Taking time to appreciate this will help keep you mindful and grateful. Take a moment to appreciate the big and small stuff by using a gratitude journal. Or if journals aren’t your thing how about a gratitude jar? Just make a little note of what you’re grateful for and the date. Then pop it in a special jar and you’ll see how quickly it grows and how much you have to be grateful for!
“If you are grateful, I will give you more.” (The Holy Qur’an 14:7)
4. Capture the Moment
Take a photo of yourself with a loved one, bestie or special person/people in your life to reflect on throughout the year. Know that you are loved by these people and appreciated just the way you are right now, but remember Allah’s love for you is even greater.
“Sometimes Allah bring a person into your life as a blessing. Others may enter as lesson. Learn your lessons and appreciate the blessings!” (Al-Hafiz Hisham)
5. Dua’s Come True
Write a dua list of your hopes and dreams for the year ahead, as well as the reason why you want these things. Then reflect on your list, the intention behind them and what will really give you happiness.
Re-assess if necessary then make sincere dua for these things. If your duas are answered cross them off the list. If they aren’t, be content in knowing that you are better off without it.
“We often wonder why we didn’t get what we want, but we need to realise that sometimes Allah keeps something away from us in order to give us something better.” (Dr Bilal Philips)SA
It all start from you. HELLO 2019!
