Photography by Veronika Jorjobert (@veronikajorjobert) from Unsplash
Ending the year with a season of celebrations might offer us the feeling of closing in on a chapter of our lives. For some of us, it's a meaningful time in preparation to shrug off the hardships of a year that's passed. On the other hand, some would go out to celebrate the wins they didn't give cheers to throughout the year.
The two seem like different sides of the coin (but both equally valid reasons) to brace this time of the year and the anticipation for the new year. We found a way to reconcile the two. It's a way that honors all of what we've been through and what else is to come. And we're committing to it to make a more meaningful year-end this year and beyond.
Starting from within to the people we connect with, here's how you could celebrate with meaning and change up the way you see this season:
For within
Slowly removing shame in growing.
Photography by Alexander Krivitskiy (@krivitskiy) from Unsplash
When we end the year, there may be a few moments in the flurry of online celebrations and intimate parties with our bubble to look back and reflect on the year (highly recommended!) As Women in Progress who may have yet to unlearn the pressure of growing into places looking a certain way or needing to feel certain feelings at different points in our life, we may gravitate towards the setbacks or the challenges. This feeling is natural, and we, too, find ourselves caught in this pattern. Because we gravitate towards the negative, we bite down on what we've done wrong, and the overpowering feeling of shame takes over.
It might be the time when the inner monologue of why-didn't-I-achieve-this or how-come-person-did-this-better comes in. Our tip to make your year-end musings more change-making? Remind yourself you're growing and going through progress in your own, unique way. Be kinder to yourself because a year in your skin means stories that only you know and only you experience. Being able to go through all of what you've been through is worthy in itself of a celebration, and keeping this in mind will change the way you see yourself as you visualize YOU next year.
Taking it to action: Your skin is one of the few things that manifests your experiences. When we go through stress, our skin has a possibility of breaking out in response to it. Whenever the environment or weather changes, our skin gets oilier or dryer. At the same time, our genetics could pre-determine how our skin responds to these as we go through life changes.
Because we don't always have control of these as we go through our unique journeys, it's important to find skin treatments that help do the heavy lifting— no matter what your skin type is. Simply Skin offers a range of facial treatments expertly crafted for your ever-changing skin by skipping umbrella treatments and getting down to your specific needs and goals. Our skin-loving experts provide more than just treatments, but an experience you'll look forward to that's uniquely yours. One where you can see and feel progress as you grow unabashedly into who you want to be.
For connecting
Go thoughtful and intentional.
Photography Ramiro Pianarosa (@rapiana) from Unsplash
The season might bring about online reunions and celebrations within our bubble. The struggle of connecting because of the pandemic may feel even a little bit lighter now, and even the slightest chance to see our family and chosen family is a feat in itself. We can take it up a notch, though, by making sure we pour our intentions into being present in each celebration we mark up in the calendar. No, this doesn't mean every interaction we make with our favorites has to be weighty or profound (take cues of what they want to and not want to talk about!) It just means being there for them in a way that they'd appreciate, and in a way you show how you cherish the moment you'll have with them. This is something you and who you're connecting with will feel even in the afterglow of the celebrations— a change you'll both remember and would want to extend to everyone.
Taking it to action: These ways could be as simple as putting your phone down to casually (or actively) listen to a cousin talking about their niche interests or being a shoulder to lean on as you catch up with old friends going through a rougher time. It could also manifest in looking for meaningful and thoughtful gifts that speak about what you know about them!
From Gift Cards that'll delight even the hard-to-give-a-gift-to loved ones to Treatments & Progress Plans that could go with them on their journey to progress, our Gift Shop has a thoughtful gift you could give to anyone with every skin story. Not only will you be able to skip the long lines and save the frantic feeling of last-minute gift-giving, but they'll also appreciate how you're thinking forward for their progress. A steady reminder they have someone rooting for them.
For looking forward
Go for happy and grounded.
Photography by Mathilde Langevin (@mathildelangevin) from Unsplash
Along with the specific commitments we want to make for the next year and paired with what we've learned from the past, try to include these two words as a core in creating your year-end plans: happy and grounded. Having our actions with happiness and being grounded as the center will make the tiny yet impactful changes that we'll see and feel as we continue our journey to our ever-bettering selves.
Taking it to action: Happy might sound like an ultimate goal instead of the bite-sized, more sustainable ones we've been trying to practice more but as you create your specific plans of progress for the next year, ask yourself: "How can I make this delightful? How do I make this grounded in what I want for myself?"
If you ask how Woman in Progress would make movement more delightful and grounded to her, you'd expect something completely different from how you would answer it. That's what makes focusing on happy and grounded when making your 2022 commitment would be. Not only will you incorporate your happier, better self in focus, but you'll also have more understanding of how your experience will be different from another. A kinder, happier space ensues from there!v
Take what you need to make this year's end more meaningful. Make it yours & see and feel the good, healthy change we'll all strive for beyond this season.
Thumbnail by Veronika Jorjobert (@veronikajorjobert) and Ramiro Pianarosa (@rapiana) from Unsplash