Mark Custer's Mantra Heading into the New Year

You know what they say… “New year, new me!”

Here, Mark Custer shares his “New Years” wisdom in hopes to guide you through 2022.

Heading into the New Year, I am reminded of some great wisdom I was taught a long time ago but needs to be remembered.  It’s about creating the things you want in your life.  That it is up to all of us to create our own stories.  What we want to experience in life starts with our original thoughts.  Those thoughts turn into words and actions.  And the actions turn into our experiences. 

If we want to experience joy and hope during the middle of a pandemic, sickness, stress, and mostly fear, we have to work on our thoughts first.  We can still experience joy by focusing on loving, positive thoughts and recognizing when our minds are moving towards fearful, negative thoughts.  It’s ok to feel some fear, or anger, or frustration, or hurt, or even feeling just downright lousy like when you are sick (I’m feeling that right now).  But knowing that these feelings will come and go just like the waves of the ocean is the important part.  Recognizing them, feeling them, and then letting them go is the key, so you can get back to the thoughts you want to create great experiences out of. 

This is my mantra heading into the new year.  I know a lot of us have great goals, resolutions, and ideas of what to accomplish or change heading into the new year.  But I want all of you to think about the practice of focusing on your mind muscle.  People can do this through meditation, yoga, working out, taking walks through the woods, or through journaling.  If you want to experience great things this year, try moving inward and thinking of new thoughts.  It takes practice and repetition – and is hard work!  Loving affirmative thoughts always trump fearful, negative self-talk thoughts.  So, it is time to LOVE YOURSELF this new year and create those things you want to experience by starting with the beautiful mind you were given!