I don’t know about you, but each and every
New Year’s Day, my social media feed is
swamped with resolutions. From ‘New year,
new me’ quotes to promises that the coming
year will be the ‘best one yet’, I’ve seen and
heard it all. Now, while I think a healthy dose
of enthusiasm is imperative for implementing
change – and leading a joyous life – there’s
danger in a drastic lifestyle overhaul. Often,
we place too much pressure on ourselves to
do better or to be better. Soon enough, we
fall back into old, comfortable and often
unhealthy patterns only to set new resolutions
again the next year.
What if, instead of wishing we were
different, we accept ourselves as we are in
this very moment? By acknowledging our
weaknesses and celebrating our strengths,
we can objectively recognise opportunity
for growth.
The ancient Indian yogis knew that
surrendering to the natural flow of life
is where peace, serenity and stillness are
attained. From a spiritual perspective,
surrendering simply means being at one
with the present moment. Whether we’re
feeling anger, sadness or uncertainty, simply
by feeling our emotions and acknowledging
their presence, we can begin to heal and
evolve (page 38).The yogis also pointed to nature as one
of our greatest sources for learning. When
we spend time in nature, we’re able to see
the natural laws of the universe in motion;
trees effortlessly shed their leaves in autumn,
only to grow new ones again come spring. If
we take a leaf from nature, maybe the secret
to change is in welcoming it rather than
fighting it.
While our mental, emotional and spiritual
progression is a foremost focus of this issue,
so too is the state of our planet. We’ve
reached a pivotal point in caring for our earth
and we need to take action to effect change.
By being more aware of our actions and how
they affect our environment, we can create
a brighter future for the next generations to
thrive (page 80).
Ultimately, our power in effecting change
comes down to choice; it’s empowering to
realise that in each moment we’re able to
choose our thoughts and actions, but the
key is to do so with mindfulness. To borrow
the words of the ancient Greek philosopher
Socrates, “The secret to change is to focus all
of your energy not on fighting the old, but
on building the new.” With that realisation,
we’re more equipped to focus on the present
moment and create a life that lights us up.
In love and health,Editor’s letter
naturalhealthoz australiannaturalhealth naturalhealth_mag naturalhealthozDanae Dimitropoulou, Editor8 | AUSTRALIAN NATURAL HEALTH naturalhealthmag.com.au