The perfect path, of course, is to consciously live every minute of the day – to constantly corelate our smallest thoughts, words and deeds with our ideals, values and life goals. Such consonance puts us in harmony with the best part of ourselves all the time. But since we are not realised sages as yet (correct me, if I am wrong) let us presently settle for annual correctives. It might help to do this exercise in your journal, instead of mentally. Things stick more enduringly if they are written down and you will be able to access them any time you wish to. Do a general review of the year first and evaluate its impact.

Go through last year’s goals. How many have you achieved? Acknowledge yourself for that. How many do you wish to follow in the New Year? Enter them into your fresh list of goals. Now, look at the major events of the year that is ending. Any sizeable achievement or triumph? What new learnings about yourself and your capabilities have they brought? Can they be leveraged into new career or self-expression opportunities? Acknowledge yourself and write out all the possibilities that these events have brought to your life.

What fresh skill or talent have you discovered within yourself or wish to cultivate? You might want to be a gourmet cook or a hair stylist. Maybe you wish to join a choir or learn to paint. Whatever your dream, set it into motion by writing about it and taking the first step towards realising it.

Go through the year, month by month and evaluate its impact on you – mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Has your poor performance appraisal dented your confidence and dampened your enthusiasm? If so, start healing yourself immediately.

To heal from the hurts and wounds of life, medicate yourself with your own tender loving care. If we love ourselves enough, we really do not need anyone else’s love. So, accept and embrace yourself just as you are. Forgive yourself for the slip-ups. Giving yourself Reiki is also an excellent way of showing self-care. Keep working on any issues until they recede from your conscious mind and you no longer feel angry when you think of them.

Suma Varughese, a regular Verve contributor, is the editor-in-chief of Life Positive magazine.