Another year is about to be over, a new one is just around the corner and the time for New Year resolutions is here. Life never stops, does it? It is time to explore the toxic habits to leave behind as you enter 2024 with a fresh mindset and new goals.
It is that time of the year when we decide what our New Year resolutions are going to be. We always think about new year resolutions as a way to improve ourselves, like going to a gym, eating healthy, managing our anger, promising to spend more time with our family, etc.
Even though these are worthy resolutions and these will help you enrich your life, why don’t you do something different this year? Why not decide to adopt a new mindset, and focus predominantly on your mental health?
We all want to be happy, satisfied, and stress-free, but in order to achieve that, you will need to focus on your mind. It is imperative that you work towards nourishing it and taking care of it. If your mind is not in the right place, it is extremely tough to be happy in real life.
The best way to fulfil this goal is to leave a few toxic habits in 2023 and focus on building a happier you in the coming new year. Let’s explore how letting go of toxic habits like these can help you.
Related: 8 Tips To Embrace Your Flaws And Fall In Love With Your Imperfections
4 Toxic Habits To Leave Behind In 2023
1. Being TOO self-deprecating.
Make this one of your major New Year goals now!
Being a little bit critical about yourself is absolutely fine, as this can stop you from being too over-confident and arrogant. But how much is too much? Are you someone who is always criticizing yourself, no matter what? Well, then that is where you draw the line.
You are human at the end of the day and you are bound to make mistakes, just like everybody else. There is no point in bashing yourself up constantly.
“You have been criticizing yourself for years and it hasn’t worked. Try approving of yourself and see what happens.” – Louise Hay
Too much self-criticism can severely hurt your confidence, self-esteem, and thought process. The more you beat yourself up about the small things, the more you will end up in a dark place.
It is vital that you treat yourself and speak to yourself with love and compassion. You are always busy giving love and support to your close ones, then why not give yourself some too?
2. Ruminating about how other people judge you.
We live in a society where every little step you take will be met with judgment. No matter how much that scares you or enrages you, that is the sad truth.
But, this is your life and your only life, so why should you care and ruminate about how other people are judging you? Does it matter what a couple of strangers think about you when it’s your happiness we are talking about?
Imagine how simple and content your life will be if you could do what you wanted, how you wanted and when you wanted.
If you constantly think about how other people are perceiving you and what they think you should do, then you are living your life the wrong way. You should not focus on doing things that you think you SHOULD do.
Do things you WANT to do. Frame your new year resolutions in such a way that you are able to enjoy this beautiful thing they call life, to the fullest.
3. Get out of your comfort zone.
Everyone wants to be comfortable, including you, and there is nothing wrong with that. But, being stuck in your comfort zone can be dangerous and limiting for you. Life is full of diverse opportunities and possibilities, and if you do not try to explore all that then you will be missing out on a lot of exciting experiences.
“The only thing that is stopping you from where you are to where you want to go is your comfort zone.” – Dhaval Gaudier
If you continue doing the same things over and over again every day of the month, you will lose your excitement about life. Getting out of your comfort zone can be intimidating for sure, but you never know what you might come across unless you explore what is on the other side of the spectrum.
Shake up your routine, mix with new people, go on different adventures, let go of people who are not helping you grow, and surround yourself with people who will bring out the best in you.
Related: 24 Simple Self-Care Ideas For The Holidays and Beyond
4. Stuck in the past.
One of the most important toxic habits to leave behind is this.
Holding on to our past is one of the worst things we can do to ourselves and our mental health. If you have been hurt badly in the past or you have gone through a traumatic experience, then it can be difficult to forget it and move on.
This is your brain subconsciously protecting you from getting hurt again. But, this is stopping you from living your life to the fullest and unlocking your true potential.
But this is one of those toxic habits that you need to leave behind. The best way to let go of your past and its control over you is by forgiving the people who hurt you. Even if forgiveness seems difficult, you need to do it. Not for their benefit, but for yours. The more hurt and anger you hold on to, the more it will destroy you.
You must also learn to forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you made. Forgive yourself for trusting the wrong people. Forgive yourself for not knowing better. Forgive yourself for giving people innumerable chances, in spite of knowing that they did not deserve it. And most importantly, forgive yourself for being human.
Don’t be so hard on yourself, it will suck all your happiness away.
Life is tough as it is, so why not build yourself in such a way that you fight every challenge with a determined smile on your face? With the help of your new year resolutions, promise yourself to live a life with no regrets.
Promise yourself that you are more than what people think of you. Promise yourself that you are going to make the most of what life has to offer. Lastly, promise yourself that you will love yourself and be happy.
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