As we begin a new calendar year, it’s a time we can offer ourselves some reflection on the things we liked about how we were and how the past year unfolded, and the things we’d like to do differently in the coming year.  For this week’s experiment, I invite you to take some time simply to be with yourself, to settle into a quiet – and compassionate – review of 2004.  What were the high points, in terms of the ways you interacted with yourself and your environment that you really enjoyed, or that made you feel more centered, better about yourself, or increased your experience of well-being?  As you review these moments, notice what happens in your body.  Notice the sensations that accompany feelings and memories of well-being, mastery, gentleness, assertiveness – whatever the qualities were that you particularly enjoyed discovering in yourself or developing further.  Spend some time resting your awareness in those sensations so your whole body-mind being has a chance to register them.

Then, review those things you wish you had done differently, or ways of being you find uncomfortable and want to change.  Remember to do this review with compassion for yourself and others, and from a stance of non-judgment. The point here isn’t to beat yourself up.  It’s to note those areas where you’d like to develop new responses and ways of being – ones that nourish a sense of self-esteem and mastery, or ease and comfort, or whatever you’d like to develop in place of these “less-skillful” responses.

Finally, take a few moments to settle into the core of your being and focus on the one thing you absolutely, without question, like best about yourself.  Take time to feel into the state of mind and physical sensations that accompany being in touch with this thing you like best about yourself.  Be sure to notice any mixed feelings that come up with this exercise.  Sometimes, we’ve been taught – by our families, or at school, or in our religious communities – that it’s prideful and somehow not okay to feel good about ourselves.  If you have any mixed feelings, allow them to arise and move through, even as you continue to focus on what it is you like best about yourself. 

To conclude the experiment, take some time to reflect on the fact that a whole new year lies ahead, with all its opportunities and challenges.  Notice what it’s like to touch into a feeling of gratitude that, whatever the past year brought with it, there will be other opportunities to practice being you in the world.  And, that’s an important theme to carry into the coming year.  It’s all practice.  The goal isn’t to arrive at a perfect rendition of ourselves.  It’s to practice, practice, practice and, hopefully, become increasingly skillful at being who we are.