New year, new opportunities, new moments...

I was not sad to close the door on 2024; it was a challenging year. 2025, early on, has proven to be different, spectacular and full of newness. January is the chilliest month and is often associated with being blue, sad, and dismal. For many, it may feel this way; however, it has always been the opposite for me.
I look forward to January and see it as a gateway to newness. We have closed the door on 2024, and a new door opens, allowing each of us to choose to step forward or hang on to what was. This is a new year with new opportunities, and it is filled with new moments. I do not believe in creating an unachievable and unrealistic New Year's resolution; however, I believe in small steps leading to big change. I've lived it, shared its power with others, and seen the magnificence of what happens when you believe enough in yourself to step forward. I am stepping into 2025, having spent 2024 building my small steps.

I now know for sure, and science backs it up, that ruminating, hanging on, and miring in the past is bad for our well-being (Glazer et al., 2022; Positivity, 2025). What do I mean by that? Well, there is a direct link to a heightened risk for Dementia, heart disease, depression, eating disorders, and substance abuse (Karim et al., 2021). Perhaps the link is not significant enough to push you to start thinking about the process of letting go, and I know many of you struggle with loving to hang on to your past. Hanging on and rumination are the leading causes of negative thinking and inner critic/voice, and they cause an overall increase in stress, raising your cortisol levels. None of us need any more of that. Notice my choice of words; I am not saying forget your past; however, I am saying let go, and there is a difference. Memories and stories are an essential part of how we frame our future. Our past is part of who we are today; it is our foundation, not our definition. Each moment is a new one, a new moment in our story that we are given the opportunity to create.

In Buddhism, letting go happens through non-attachment. Attachment is our desire to cling to ideas, people, or things. It is rooted in desire and beliefs. We all do it. Take a moment and ask yourself honestly, what am I clinging to?
Here are a few examples (pause for a moment and see if you can let go of the icky judgment as you contemplate):
1. Maybe it's being stuck in a cycle of promising yourself something you can't deliver right now. For example, maybe you keep saying to yourself, "This week, I'm going to start meditating at least three times a week." For whatever reason, it doesn't happen.
2. Maybe it's being stuck in a negative thought pattern, like blaming someone else for your misery. For example, because (insert someone's name here) is sad, depressed, or injured/suffering, therefore, I am unable to XXX, and consequently, I am suffering, sad, irritable, angry, unable to do XXX.
3. Maybe it's being stuck craving something you don't want to crave anymore, like coffee, sugar, booze, nail-biting...
Do you think this sounds familiar to you? Too close to home? That's okay; I want you to remember we all have many attachments. The process of letting go is meant to be ongoing. The more we let go, the more we find freedom, love, and peace. I know from experience that letting go is very difficult but healing and life-changing.

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Tips for becoming aware of cravings

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1. The power of healing and release meditation. Vipassana. This is the one authentic way to identify your cravings and release them from your body.

2. Awareness diary. Take a few weeks (you can do this with a partner, spouse, and/or family) and write down when you notice a craving. You can divide it out by physical and emotional to start. After a few weeks, sit down and notice what you see. Any patterns? How does it make you feel?

3. Keep it simple. Pick one craving and learn more about it. Educate yourself by developing self-awareness about this one specific thing. Try a five-senses exercise; when you notice the craving, stop for a moment and dial into your five senses. Write a note on your phone or in a journal labelling one quick thought or feeling next to each sense. Try this for a few weeks and circle back.

Monthly Sharing Section...

A GOOD READ: As I pulled together the content for this newsletter, I was reading a wonderful and educational book called The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The book is research-heavy; however, it will leave you feeling like you want to share, discuss, and potentially learn more (I did). Tip: I recommend reading the book vs. listening; the book has a lot of visual aids, and they are fantastic to look at. When listening on Audible, you must jump to the website to look at all the graphs, which is time-consuming and a bit challenging. Here is a link to learn more about it and get your copy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/iRJqAXB​

WORTH LISTENING TO: Do you enjoy podcasts or audio experiences? I like to immerse myself in a good one from time to time. Check out the latest episode of our podcast, called Groupies. It's a comedic conspiracy series, so be prepared to chuckle or laugh out loud and tap into your curiosity. Here is a link to The Admit One Radio Hour: https://linktr.ee/admitoneradiohour​

SOMEONE I'M FOLLOWING: I love to cook and bake. Eating well is part of the mind-body experience. I love discovering amazing chefs who know how to make eating well an easy journey. One of my favourite chefs is Caitlin Latessa-Greene. Everything I have made from her recipes has been delicious, easy to make, and loved by those I've shared them with. She shares many recipes that are vegan, gluten-free, and veggie-based. Here is how to learn more about what she's up to: https://linktr.ee/starinfinitefood​

Monthly Mindful Meditation

This is a short meditation. If you want to jump right into it, fast forward to the 20-second mark and enjoy:

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With gratitude,
Jen James
jen@admitone.ca
​https://www.doublejstrategic.com/​

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References

Glazer, S., Serrer, L. N., & Ion, A. (2022). Ruminating on the past may be bad for you, or is it? Implications of past negative time perspective on job-related stress. Time & Society, 31(3), 335–365. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961463x211070679

Karim, H. T., Ly, M., Yu, G., Krafty, R., Tudorascu, D. L., Aizenstein, H. J., & Andreescu, C. (2021). Aging faster: worry and rumination in late life are associated with greater brain age. Neurobiology of Aging, 101, 13–21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2021.01.009

Positivity, P. O. (2025, January 16). Scientists reveal 7 ways thinking about the past damages your health. Power of Positivity: Positive Thinking & Attitude. https://www.powerofpositivity.com/thinking-about-the-past-damages-health/

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