Why making any change in 2025 starts with getting reflective now (and a Grinch-proof guide on how to do it)
Reflections on 2024 and intentions for 2025 at the Shelf Help Christmas party
Hello everybody,
If you’ve been here a while you’ll know that I love New Year energy, for the same reason that I love Mondays; all that blank page/fresh start/good intentions potential.
I wasn’t always like this, I used to hate Mondays and spend most of my new year regretting the past year’s life choices. So if you’re not an NY fan, I see you. I really do. And I’m not asking you to make any grand commitments to me, or to yourself. Or even any tiny new habits. Not yet.
BUT if you are looking to make some change in your life, I invite you to indulge me and my xmas message and read on, because… well, nothing changes if nothing changes, right?
Whoever wrote; “The best time to start was yesterday. The next best time is now.” (anon) obviously wasn’t juggling multiple Christmas commitments.
I know from being in the self-help business for 7+ years, as well as my own lived experience for 40+, that December is not the month we want to be/become our best selves. Or even if we do want to, the likelihood of making changes to how we think, feel and/or behave at this time of year is pretty slim.
Instead, with so much going on, lots of us find ourselves in mental and emotional survival mode as we spend/eat/drink/plan/play/give/worry too much.
(Again, this used to be me, so no shade is being thrown here. Knowing that this time of year is hard is exactly the reason I chose our latest BOTM, Self-care for Winter, as a way to help us to support ourselves just a little bit better).
Good news though guys, is that a hectic December is actually one of the reasons New Year is the perfect springboard to create positive change. Because noticing we’re out of balance is often the catalyst for becoming aware of the parts of our lives that we’d most like to improve. (Hands up if you’re not feeling a little out of balance right now? Anyone?!)
The even better news, is that if you’re taking the time to read this, you’ve already started moving yourself through the change process without doing anything other than contemplating doing life differently and opening your inbox.
A very simple guide to how we change looks like this:
1.Contemplation - 2.Preparation - 3.Action - 4.Maintenance
Stages 2-4 are where the Shelf Help Club comes in. I can tell you why and how to change, and - along with the lovely community we have going here - I can help you keep it up.
Stage 1 is usually on you. Because I can't tell you what to change, or make the decision to do things differently for you.
BUT - and this is why I love love LOVE this time of year - I can invite you to use the end of the year as a contemplation kinda time.
And I can give you some tools to get reflective.
Much like a ‘pre-workout’ exercise product promises to enhance the performance and effectiveness of an actual workout, I want you to think of December as your ‘pre-New Year workout’, and before we get all revved up ready to embrace January 2025 (when I'll be back here with all kinds of Self Health audits and Book Club invites and morning routine strategies 🥳) I want to invite you to take some time to think about what has been.
There are lots of ways to do this.
EASY IDEAS FOR GETTING REFLECTIVE IN DECEMBER
You can pick up the BOTM, Self-care for Winter, whose seventh (and final) winter well-being tip is; ‘Practise Reflection’, with a whole chapter of guided journalling prompts from author Suzy Reading to support a deep dive into what’s important to you.
You can undertake a Tim Ferriss inspired Past Year Review (I’ll be sharing a self-paced guided workshop on this for our members next Monday 23rd Dec).
You can get yourself a copy of the latest ‘Goodbye Hello’ journal from coach Selina Barker (who’s hosting a free workshop on 28th December for anyone who buys one of the journals).
You can gift/bust out some inspiring conversation cards at dinners with family and friends over the festive period (I love the Self Space Deep and Meaningfuls).
AND/OR (highly recommended! 😊) you can join the Shelf Help Club Intention Baubles arty Christmas party TONIGHT, an Art Healing Workshop hosted by artist (and Shelfie) Eva Lai, in which she’ll be guiding us to get reflective and start setting intentions
This week in our BOTM we are looking at 'Making Meaningful Connections’ with author Suzy sharing ideas on how we can honour our impulse to retreat in winter without cutting ourselves off and still getting the social connection we need to thrive.
And joining the Shelfies to get quiet and reflective in company, from the comfort of your own home and wearing your cosiest, most Christmassy clothes, sounds like a rather lovely way to do exactly that.
A Christmas party that doesn’t involve leaving your house, or putting on heels, or even talking to anyone (if you don’t want)?! Yes please!
Book Club members/subscribers will find tonight’s event information and this week’s BOTM reading target in the Members Only section below, and - as ever - non-members can join the fun by subscribing to the full Clubhouse experience and community.
I hope to see you and your Christmas jumpers on screen…
Toni 💛
PS: If you are planning any kind of change for 2025, and possibly a new, growth-minded crew to support… this is your gentle reminder that our Bookworm membership is now available at the Early Bird rate (subscribe now or upgrade before 1st Jan to save over £100 on the annual membership featuring one year’s worth of curated self-help BOOKS sent direct to your door).
PPS Don’t forget you can also gift other people the magic of happiness, healing and growth with a Shelf Help Club gift membership.
