I have to be honest, I’ve never really been a resolution-making kind of person. It just feels a little cliché, and it almost seems expected that your resolutions fall by the wayside before February even arrives.

However, despite not making any “official” resolutions, I do tend to get a bit introspective at the end of every year. I thought about what changes I’d made in 2016, and how I’d like to be better in the new year. January 1st came and went, and I was still contemplating what kind of “theme” or goals I might like to keep in mind for 2017.

I really love making lists and checking things off, so surprisingly, instead of specific, measurable targets, I’ve come up with a few of my own “mantras”. These are short phrases that I can remind myself of daily and repeat whenever the situation is appropriate. So far, these little reminders have already helped me to be so much more mindful.

Live for today, forget yesterday, and look forward to tomorrow.

Just play.

Less guilt, more joy.

More love, less criticism.

Breathe.

My best is all I can do.

Create.

Embrace pen and paper.

Fall in love with books.

Speak softly.

Make time for silence.

Take a picture, but don’t miss the moment.

I’m excited to see where I go in 2017!