There’s been an energy of peace in the air for all who allow it in, even if you’re not religious. People are in good spirits, and seem to be kinder to others. My neighborhood dresses up beautifully for the holiday season. It’s fun to walk and see all the holiday lights brightening up the streets and houses. We wish friends and family a happy New Year. We send cards encouraging peace on earth and goodwill to all. Then January comes and people seem to pack up their spirits with the holiday lights.

I know that it can be a letdown to enter January after experiencing a cheery holiday season. I’ve gone through periods of feeling very down from a string of dark days and shorter days. After a whirlwind of holiday activities, it felt like my life fell flat, which greatly affected my mood. But loving myself made me do what I could to stop that from happening in recent years. It made me pay attention to my mood and lovingly do things to make me feel good.

While it’s common to feel down in January, it’s time to change that! It’s really important to monitor your mood as the New Year rolls in so you can keep your spirits high. Every year I try hard to keep my own spirit in the same mood as it was during the holidays. It may not quite be the same, but I  hold onto the good feelings from the holidays. We don’t wish joy and blessings just for the holiday season. So love yourself enough to do what you can to take it with you into 2013!

I keep holiday cards up for a while in January because they’re cheerful. Since the weather can be darker and the days are shorter, I also leave more lights on. Scented candles can boost your spirits too.  Here are some other ways to bring the joy into January:

•    Remind yourself that the days are starting to get longer and spring is coming.
•    Practice extreme gratitude. Stay focused on all the good you have in your life to help keep you in a good mood.
•    Hang a few photos of you during times of joy and with people you love and look forward to seeing them again and doing more joyful activities.
•    Consciously show yourself love Join the Self-Love Movement™ and sign the pledge to do something loving for you on every day in January. The kinder you are to you, the better you’ll feel, and the more your self-love will grow.
•    Be kind to others. Do volunteer work. Help people who need it. Studies show that the happiest people are those who help other people out in some way.

While January isn’t festive like December is, you can make it a great month if you choose to. So choose to! Make sure you join The The Self-Love Movement™ and sign the pledge the give yourself love for the first 31 days of the year. It’s my hope that you’ll want to keep it up after you feel the good effects of doing it. And check in here every day as January is Self-Love Month and I’ll have 31 days of self-love posts.

I wish you a very blessed New Year filled with self-love!
***************

Join The Self-Love Movement™! Take the 31 Days of Self-Love Commitment and get my book, How Do I Love Me? Let Me Count the Ways for free at http://howdoiloveme.com. Read my 31 Days of Self-Love Posts HERE.

Please leave comments under my posts so we can stay connected.

More from Beliefnet and our partners
Close Ad