New Year, New You!

As therapists, as teachers, there is only so much we can do. Ultimately, YOU are in charge of your life. Nobody is going to come along and hand you what you want, whether it's health, money, a job, a home, a partner, a car, etc. 

The good news is that YOU have the power to change your life!

"YOU must be the change you want to see in the world."
~ Mahatma Gandhi

​Ask yourself, "What do I want to accomplish this year, in 2020?"
​
We don't always know what we want. Sometimes, we don't know what we've got until it's gone. Other times, when we get what we want, we realize that we wanted something else. That's okay!

​You are allowed to change your mind. Moreover, you deserve to live a happy and fulfilling life. What that means is up to you.

"This is YOUR life. Are you who you want to be?"
​~ Switchfoot

The next step is to ask yourself, "How do I get there?"

Maybe you need to choose healthier foods and make time to exercise. Maybe you need to make that doctor's appointment. Maybe you need to budget and improve your finances. Maybe you need to apply for other jobs. Maybe you need to go back to school. Maybe you need to manage your time more efficiently.

"I dare you to move." ~ Switchfoot

Finally, do it. 

​Your dreams may or may not be realistic. You may succeed. You may fail. But if you don't try at all, then you aren't even giving yourself the chance to succeed. 

Throughout this process, be honest with yourself. Acknowledge the people, activities, and things that make you happy. ​Acknowledge those that don't.

"True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life you don’t need to regularly escape from."
~ Brianna Wiest

For more inspiration, check out:
​
This article by Brianna West
​"Lose Well" by Chris Gethard
"Resilience After Burnout: A Self-Care Guide for Music Therapists" by Ami Kunimura, MT-BC