It’s funny—I’ve known since I was 13 that January is named after the god Janus, who has two faces: one looking forward and one backward. Right now, that seems particularly fitting. The New Year naturally makes us look back at the past year and reflect on the good and the bad. It also gives us a chance to look forward to the coming year and consider what changes we might want to make.
Even though I often tell myself I’m not interested in New Year’s Resolutions, likely due to my failed attempts in the past, I can’t help but reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future. Last year had its challenges. I lost three close connections, including my sister, within just nine days. I also reinjured my back, making it difficult to walk for a while, and even months later I was still in pain. My elderly parents caught Covid, which was stressful, though thankfully they recovered. Additionally, many sponsors for Wildmind had to cancel their subscriptions due to financial struggles, especially those in the UK who were hit hard by the post-Brexit economy.
But there were positive moments too. I published a book called “A Year of Buddha’s Wisdom” on my birthday. I managed to avoid getting Covid, and my meditation practice stayed consistent. Towards the end of the year, I got back into the habit of daily walks. Despite the pandemic reducing my social life, I adjusted and found a way to cope. I also dedicated the entire year writing on one topic for a course called “Politics as a Spiritual Practice,” which I hope to turn into a book.
Interestingly, the good and the bad were often interconnected. My increased writing meant long hours at the computer, which led to my back injury. This brings me to my main realization: I’m good at self-compassion but not as good at self-care.
Self-compassion involves responding kindly to our own suffering, offering comfort and reassurance to ourselves during tough times. I’ve even written a book on the topic and feel confident in my ability to practice it. On the other hand, self-care means taking actions to prevent suffering in the first place, ensuring our long-term happiness and health. This includes eating well, getting enough sleep, taking breaks from work, and regular exercise and stretching. While I excel at the first two and am fairly good at taking breaks, I’ve been lacking in regular exercise and stretching.
Some people are great at self-care but struggle with self-compassion, being critical of themselves even while living healthily. Ideally, we should aim to be good at both. My back injury reminded me of the importance of self-care. I don’t want to go through that pain again, so I’ve visited a physical therapist and learned exercises to strengthen my core and increase my flexibility. Once my chest infection clears up, I plan to resume daily walks.
Reflecting on the past year and looking forward to the next, I’ve set a general aim for the year: “Thriving Through Self-Care.” I envision myself later in the year, full of energy and joy, achieved through dedicated self-care. To make this happen, I’ve set specific goals: walking an average of 30 minutes a day and stretching for at least five minutes daily. If I miss a day’s walk due to sickness or bad weather, I’ll make it up on other days. I know accountability helps, so I’ll check in daily on Wildmind’s community website to track my progress.
Toward the end of last year, I started working a four-day week after reading a study that showed increased productivity with this schedule. It seems to be working well for me, making me more creative and less exhausted by the end of the week. Additionally, focusing intensely on my year-long course resulted in losing a third of my income as supporters withdrew their sponsorships. This caused some anxiety, so part of my self-care plan involves rebuilding my subscriber base. Ideally, I’d have someone handle community growth and engagement for Wildmind so I could focus entirely on teaching without financial worries.
In looking back and planning for the future, I’ve decided to write in this blog three times a month, even if the posts are brief. Some of these will build on today’s reflections.
I wish you a very Happy New Year. If you have thoughts about self-care or New Year’s aspirations and goals, feel free to share them in the comments. This year, I aim to balance self-compassion with self-care to truly thrive.