The parts of New Year’s Eve that I enjoy are the openness to change in the air and the opportunity to ask self-reflective questions. What were the highlights of your last year? What about the lowlights? What did you learn?
Sometimes these questions are met with a groan. But from you, dear reader, they are met with a spark. Curious minds like to see this moment as an opportunity to take stock, and then create new goals or set intentions. I know you’ve got that joie de vivre.
Since the Mindful Rebels community is focused on mind-body health on both a personal and societal level, here are seven questions to reflect on as we jumpstart a new year:
Why do you eat what you eat?
I hope I’ve debunked the myth that there is one diet to rule them all. Mostly, all you need to know, as Michael Pollan says, is “eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” But there are other ways to frame your relationship with food. What about from a moral perspective? Consider reading Peter Singer’s work if you haven’t. Or, what about from an environmental perspective? How might the food you are consuming and the system of production that surrounds it be impacting the environment? It’s a good thing to re-examine your opinions; they may change as you acquire new information.
How can you integrate more movement into your everyday life?
Move. Every day. Even if it’s just a little bit. You can set a timer on your phone to remind yourself to get up (sit down or squat if you need to) for a few minutes every hour. Your job is not going to visit you if you need a joint replacement so take care of yourself. There’s a ton of content available on this topic, from how breaks make you more productive to what types of movement you should do. Oh, and if you’re carrying a bag on one shoulder, consider getting a backpack.
What are the biggest stressors in your life and how are you coping?
The health of the mind and body are intricately connected. Assess the big stressors of the last year, and how you coped. What tools did you use to manage your feelings? Did you avoid conflict? Flip out and then regret it? Blame others or deny your feelings? Act aggressively, passive aggressively or defensively? Or were you able to choose a more adaptive way by addressing situations head on, self-reflecting, and re-directing?
What is your daily mindfulness practice?
As Jon Kabat-Zinn says, “mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.” It seems rather simple but requires brain training. The practice helps you build enough space between reacting and responding so you can more skillfully deal with everything you explored in the previous question. If you’re not familiar with how to practice mindfulness, start with the work of Kabat-Zinn, Tara Brach, and Sharon Salzberg.
How can your meditation practice grow?
You may be wondering what the difference between mindfulness and meditation is right about now. Meditation is an umbrella term that encompasses practices that bring you to a higher level of consciousness. Mindfulness is a type of meditation that specifically directs your attention to the present. With that said, have you brought a meditation practice into your life? The best way to do this is to just start. Try three minutes a day at the same time every day. There are many types of meditation that you can choose from. Maybe your meditation practice has stalled (yes, that’s happened to me), and you’re looking for new insight. The best way to resolve this may be to try a new technique and teacher.
How much do you understand about the healthcare system in your country?
At some point, you or someone you know (if they haven’t already) will experience a health crisis. If there’s anything the last few years has taught me, it is that most people don’t take the time to learn (or care) about it until they need it. Sadly, the system in the United States where I live can leave individuals and families bankrupt. For a bit about the state of affairs as told through interesting charts and graphs, check out the Health System Tracker.
What are you (and your representatives) doing about climate change?
From my perspective (and the perspective of those who know a lot more than me), this is THE biggest issue facing human existence. Climate and health are bound together. Just think about the need for clean air, safe water, and sufficient food. What’s highly disturbing is what the president of the US tweeted just the other day:
In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year’s Eve on record. Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to protect against. Bundle up!
Uh, President Trump, climate and weather are not the same thing. Climate is the overall pattern of conditions and weather is day-to-day changes. Look at Project Drawdown, WHO and NASA for some actual facts.
So, there you go. Why seven questions, you ask? In many cultures the number seven is lucky. Let’s head into the new year with more knowledge, a healthy dose of self-reflection, AND a side of luck. See you in 2018!