Self-Assessment

I think that overall I’m doing better – I’m more cheerful and less tired – since I have started doing two things: journaling and yoga/meditation before bed, (20-30 minutes, I think) and staying hydrated throughout the day. I’m working on a system to actually track these things but it’s made enough of a difference that my husband has noticed.

My journal entries have a structure now, too: I write down two things that gave me joy that day, one thing I want to leave behind, a blessing for someone who is on my mind, and finally an intention for the next day. I’ve observed more follow-through on specific intentions, like “call the dentist” than general hard-to-measure ones, like “less Twitter.” I know intentions are supposed to be more like “seek contentment” or something but this is what is working for me.

I’ve been mulling over what my theme should be for this year. Several people have mentioned that that works better for them than specific resolutions. I’m leaning towards something like “contemplation” (as I biked to school today, the snow-dusted mountains inspired this feeling).

There are so many things going on right now in the world and in my immediate sphere of influence that could just derail any serenity I have not, but despite everything, I feel more serenity now than I did in the final weeks of 2021.