The start of a new year is always a good time for reflection. For many, it might be the only time set aside to be introspective. But what if we were to ask ourselves more than once a year: “what is most important?”

What is most important – for this hour, for this day, for this week, month and year? What timeframe works for me to reflect? Sometimes thinking a month ahead feels like to much, especially in the pandemic when we aren’t sure what tomorrow will look like.

I find myself starting with the moment, the present, holding myself as I am (and actually holding myself sometimes, putting my hands under my armpits and closing my eyes). Finding peace to look within, to sit with oneself. This is hard sometimes. I was taught to be a “doer” – to do many things – to be task-oriented as its sometimes called. But what might appear to be doing nothing is also something.

Sitting with yourself, finding rest, feeling peace inward so you can face whatever this world has in store, is sometimes the most productive thing we can do. It is important.

In 2020, I participated in an online, 9-month yoga teacher training and my teacher often came back to this question of what is most important. More specifically, it could be asked: 1) What needs to be cultivated? 2)What needs letting go of? 3) What needs sustaining power?

I was fortunate enough to spend a few days at the beach with my beloved over the holidays. I was lucky enough to have the time to rest, spend time with someone I love and reflect on life and what is most important. I will start with this year, 2021.

For this year, it is important to sustain my renewed energy for what is sure to be another difficult year of the pandemic. I can do this by eating well, exercising, finding time for rest, stimulating the mind by reading and being with loved ones as I can in-person and/or virtually.

For this year, I want to share my inner peace with others. After completing a yoga teacher training last month, I want to share practices in these challenging times with those who need new ways to tap into their inner fire, find their inner strength and develop the best versions of themselves.

For this year, I want to shed self doubt, fears about not being good enough, whether in my profession or in other aspects of life. Letting go of thoughts of self deprecation, as we are all connected in our humanness and there is no such thing as perfect.

What is most important right now for this year might not be true tomorrow, but that’s ok. We take each day as it comes, moment by moment, breath by breath.

2021 is sure to bring many challenges, as we have already seen, but looking to what is most important for us to sustain both ourselves and the ones around us can help find the sunlight internally and externally through each day.

Much love in the new year.