This festive season means different to things to all of us, and there’s no denying that it can be stressful and challenging. But if we take a step back from the socialising, the gifts, the food / drink, and the various pressures, it’s actually a great time for self-reflection and for moving on.

We all know that with Yule and the winter solstice comes a shift in the days. The long days of winter reach their peak, and daylight hours begin to increase once more. As the days begin their journey towards the light, so we too can begin a new journey.

As we say goodbye to 2013, we can reflect on what’s been good for us, what’s been bad, and the lessons we have learnt along the way. We can take that knowledge with us into 2014, and use it to plan our journey for the year ahead. None of us are perfect and we all make mistakes; but it’s our mistakes that teach us. So use those lessons positively to create a better future.

Life moves quickly, and its changing all the time. Unless we change with it, we become stuck and stagnant, while life moves on around us. Every one of us is capable of change; of making different choices, and of becoming better people. That doesn’t mean we aren’t good people now – of course we are – but we have infinite potential for growth and for learning new things. We might want to learn new practical things, new educational things, new random things. We might want to learn better and healthier ways of coping with our distress.

Every thought, every action, every choice – they all shape not only our selves, but our lives. So we should keep our thoughts positive this festive season; congratulate ourselves for our successes, and most importantly forgive ourselves for the things we haven’t got quite right. Decide where we want to be in a year, and take small positive steps towards those goals every single day.

Ultimately we will end up in the direction that we decide to travel, and we must choose our paths wisely. So move forwards in 2014, and be the light you seek.

If you’d like some inspiration for positive little steps you can take in 2014, please download The LifeSIGNS little book of 5 a days – it’s free, written by LifeSIGNS volunteers, and is our gift to you.   Everyone at LifeSIGNS wishes you all the very best, and we’ll be here with you in 2014 to support you along the way.

Jules