A Magnificent New Cycle

Here we go again. We’re standing at a threshold of a new year in the Jewish calendar, coming full circle. During the ten days of repentance between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we’re awakened by the blast of the shofar (ram’s horn), reminding us to leave our comfort zone and look inward honestly to improve ourselves. It’s time to contemplate, reflect, repair, and renew. At this time of year, we review the things that matter most to us: keeping what works for us and losing the things that don’t. It’s important to take stock of our failures so we can learn from them. We know that limiting thoughts from others about us as well as our own subconscious negative narrative only keep us stuck, so we replace negative people and thoughts with empowering ones.
Shifting our mindset and reframing changes our decisions. Happy thoughts lead to happy feelings and actions. There will be challenges and failures but stay focused with discipline and determination. Risks must be taken for personal growth. You can never cross the ocean unless you have enough courage to lose sight of the shore.
To gain insights and boost creativity, it helps to engage in prayer and meditation on a regular base. When we sit quietly or walk in nature, we’re able to get in touch more easily with our innermost intuition. What messages and whispers do you get from within? Write down how a certain topic makes you feel. Does it lift your spirit or weigh it down? Are you committed to setting new goals for better future decisions and ready to move down new paths motivated with renewed energy ? We all have free choice to change our reality so we can live our best lives. It’s up to us to take the first step toward a future filled with joy and enthusiasm. Always remember to embrace your power, recognize your strengths, and celebrate your successes.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” A new year holds so much potential. With vibration of gratefulness for what we already have and new hopes for the future, we feel ready to tackle any challenges moving forward. Wishing all of us a happy and prosperous new year!
Naomi Young is a Jewish studies and a Bar/ Bat mitzvah teacher in Santa Clarita for 40 years. She is also a published writer and an artist. Contact her at naomiyoung7@yahoo.com Visit her art website at www.naomiyoung.com