It is almost the end of 2017, and so much has happened this year. I started a business, bought a house, got pregnant, and juggled what felt like a thousand continuing education trainings. This December, I'm taking the opportunity to reflect on all that has happened this year. So often I focus on starting fresh in the new year that I forget to reflect, grow, and learn from the things that are present and happening right now.

 I'm a huge fan of lists in any form. Whether it is a to-do list, journaled thoughts, or ways to keep organized and prioritized, these magical bullet points help sort all the voices in my head. Instead of a wish list for December Holidays, I decided to make a list of all the things that I have learned this year. I do not typically create New Years Resolutions, however I do attempt to start a clean slate with an intention or word for each year. This year was my Year of Exploration. After lots of professional and personal changes in 2016, I wanted 2017 to be a year where I embraced change, took risks, found adventure, and went after my goals. What a year it has been! As I write this list, I am manifesting all the wonderful things that I get to learn in 2018. I'm still formulating my intention for 2018, however this list supports my values, reflections, and authentic self.

Here are some things I have learned in 2017:

1. REFLECT WITHOUT REACTION
   1. I got caught in a whirlwind of coaching education and personal development books this year. I often started to overanalyze every little move I made based on the expertise of the author or coach. I consistently reflected upon my choices, actions, and future endeavors. It can be so easy to reflect and react because we want things to change. I started to notice that the more I attempted to change, the farther away I moved from my authentic voice and thoughts. I learned to observe my actions, reflect on the past, and take the information that served me and leave the rest. I have everything I need!
2. NOURISH YOURSELF
   1. Nourishment is one of my core values. I nourish myself through the outdoors, yoga, reading, exploring, work/life balance, and family time. Self-care or nourishment doesn't have to always be a Lush bath bomb (although they are one of my favorites!) but a mindset that resets your body, spirit, and breathe to nourish your soul like clean foods can nourish your digestive system. When I got pregnant, my vision of nourishment drastically changed. I was unable to do many of the outdoor activities that previously nourished me, and my yoga practice transformed as I physically was unable to move in my traditional way. This taught me patience, adaptability, and acceptance. These thought patterns nourished me in ways I never expected. 
3. CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONSTANT
   1. I used to avoid change like the plague. I enjoyed my routines and being comfortable. This past year has put me out of my comfort zone and into a constant cycle of change and transformation. When I learned to accept that change is the only constant in life, it made flowing through change that much easier. Acceptance and trust in the universe has allowed me to walk through challenges, changes, and obstacles with a fresh mindset and ease. 
4. INTENTION AND GOAL SETTING HELPS PRIORITIZE
   1. This is a practice that I consistently stuck to this year with help of my own coaches and mentors. I've always set intentions on the yoga mat, but this year I learned the power of this practice. Where your intention goes, energy flows. It's like an energetic boomerang that is sent off into the universe and brings you back to where you need to be. Whether your intentions, commitments, or goals are small, medium, or large, bringing your attention to the things that you would like to focus on can create beautiful and lasting results. 
5. GREET CHALLENGES WITH SOLUTIONS AND ACTIONS INSTEAD OF FEAR AND DOUBT
   1. This is a conversation I have with my husband all the time. We catch ourselves often discussing our personal and financial challenges and wallowing in self pity, fear, and doubts. The anxiety creeps in and it feels like we are stuck underneath a boulder of problems. I've found that whenever this starts to happen, I work to come up with a few ideas of solutions, actions, and choices I can make to wiggle my way out of that boulder. It may not completely fix the issue, however action, manifestation, and positive thinking has allowed me to gain a little bit more control over my struggles.
6. LIVE YOUR CORE VALUES DAILY
   1. Core Values were always something I heard, but never really practiced. As I worked with some of my own values alongside my coaches, I found that these values are the best compass to guide in the right direction when feeling lost. 
7. ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS LIKE HAVING A NEWBORN
   1. Starting my own business was a whirlwind of learning curves. In the beginning I was working to figure out my schedule, authentic voice, finances, and coddle every moment of my brand as though it were a newborn child. As I started to mature within the business, I learned to let go of things that were not working, make changes when necessary, and let it walk and crawl and run into its own being. I came back to my mission statement and WHY I was doing this in the first place, and I saw it flourish in new ways. 
8. MINDFULNESS IS A PRACTICE
   1. Mindfulness is a daily practice. I have my good days and I have my bad days. However treating mindfulness in my thoughts has been like going to a yoga class. I've noticed my mind and body change.  I've let go of things that used to cause me anxiety, frustration, and guilt. Though it will never be perfect, I've created a system that brings mindfulness into all aspects of my life professionally and personally.
9. IT IS OK TO SAY NO
   1. I have always been a YES person. I aimed to please. And though this can be a positive and beautiful trait, it often lead me to feelings of overwhelm, overexertion, and a constant juggling of others' emotions. Saying no and creating boundaries has supported me in my professional career, but also in my social and personal life. 
10. COMPARISON IS THE ROADBLOCK TO SELF-LOVE
    1. s a previous actor, comparison and self-judgement has been a habit of mine that has prohibited me from truly finding my place in the world. I constantly compare my looks, success, and choices to the people around me. This creates so many false stories and voices in my head that steer me to places that are inauthentic and challenging. When I love myself, I'm confident, beautiful, and strong. Again, this is a practice like anything else, but this year has taught me that YOU are the best relationship that you can create.