January: A Focus on Growth Goals

January 2022 is many things. We are all feeling so many things. I've never been one to set resolutions but I think especially this time of year, pandemic or not, it's important to check in with our mental health and set ourselves up for success for not only the coming months but the entire year.

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen my recent post on my Mental Health Checklist I'm trying to implement in my own life so I am modelling mental health and taking care of myself to my kids.

The 1 Minute Challenge

Violin students will be participating in a 1 Minute Challenge which will encourage them to play and listen for a minimum of 1 minute everyday. When establishing new habits, we tend to set the bar too high and get frustrated by not being able to make it work. If we keep the expectation of the habit simple and as small as possible, then we can more successfully establish the HABIT and then work on the GROWTH of that habit. If we never establish the habit, we can never see growth.

Body, Mind, Soul

The 1 Minute Challenge can be applied to the Mental Health Checklist as well (except for SLEEP!). Set the expectation that you only need to exercise for 1 minute. Set the expectation that you will learn something new by reading for 1 minute. Do something you love and that makes you feel alive - maybe that's playing or listening to music, dancing, going outside, calling a loved one. Start with just 1 minute. If it grows to more than 1 minute, let it grow. If that's all you do, let it be without judgment. You accomplished what you set out to do. Success breeds success.

Gratitude & Presence

Through these 1 minute accomplishments, remember to practice gratitude and presence. These two things will keep you coming back to your one minute accomplishments. These two things will seep into every area of life. Who I am as a parent has changed dramatically since learning to be present with my kids. In teaching my children about gratitude I've learned that happiness is the result of GRATITUDE. Gratitude comes first in every situation and this leads us to happiness, not the other way around.

Wishing everyone a successful start to the new year, no matter how big or small our successes are. Let's find joy within the chaos, even if only for 1 minute.