Hi there!

Welcome to a brand-new [insert your day of the week]!

Speaking of new things…

If you’re like me, I’m sure many times in the past you’ve become obsessed with stuff like:

reading about and buying the most recent version of the Apple iPhone
downloading the latest songs from your favourite artist
researching and checking out the latest restaurant or wine bar

Our natural curiosity drives us to see and experience new things. And while this trait has some positive benefits, if we allow ourselves to become completely absorbed by new, new, new, then we forget how good older things are (and how to still enjoy them).

Just because something is new, doesn’t mean it’s better.

For example, social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter often make changes to the way their accounts work. It may be the branding, layout or functionality that changes. But one thing is for sure - they sometimes have to roll-back these changes as users don’t like them.

Another example is in the realm of self-improvement books.

Multimillion selling classics like Think and Grow Rich and How to Win Friends and Influence People were written more than 80 years ago, but given the number of self-development and self-improvement books on the market today, have stood the test of time for their insights and ability to motivate and change the reader.

So what’s the answer to our obsession for new things?

It comes down to balance.

It’s perfectly okay to seek out new things and experiences, just as long as it is not at the expense of enjoying older things.

By all means listen to your favourite artist’s latest album, but don’t forget their back catalogue that got you interested in them in the first place (who can forget Carole King’s Tapestry).

So, in striving to achieve balance in your life, here are my Top 3 Tips:

1. Stop obsessing over Social Media.

The likes. The filters. The quotes that may or may not have been posted about you. We’ve all been guilty of it. We get caught up in looking for acceptance through likes and posts. What we wind up doing is obsessing over other people and the lives that they’re living or the lives that we think they are living. We begin to compare ourselves to what and how we see others doing.

By playing in this constant social competition pool we stop living in the moment and start letting pictures depict who we are. Social media has become so ingrained in our culture that it becomes almost impossible to take a much-needed break from it.

Tip: Let go of the fear that you are missing out on what’s going on online, take an enforced social media detox on a regular basis, and focus on what’s going on offline and in the real world.

2. Stop obsessing over Past Relationships.

It’s human nature to hurt after a relationship, either romantic or with a close bestie ends. We want to be in a relationship that’s either passionate and romantic, or mutually close and nurturing. But unfortunately not every one of them will meet that expectation.

It’s important to hurt and reflect on what you’re feeling and why, but it’s not OK to obsess over what you could have done better or why you are feeling let down. We find it far too easy to blame ourselves for failed relationships and point out every little imperfection in ourselves.

Tip: Take some time to process your emotions, whether that involves talking it out, writing it out in a journal, or just taking time to really think about what worked and what didn’t. It will ultimately teach you something that you can carry into your next relationship/s. Every relationship is a learning experience and we will grow from every one of them!

Have you hear of the saying that people come into our life for “a reason, a season or a lifetime”? Read the poem here. I hope it provides some valuable insights.

3. Stop obsessing over the status quo and the path that
everyone else is taking.

Sometimes we forget that not everyone shares the same definition of success. Family members, teachers, and the media have drilled the idea of what a successful life looks like into our heads.

We’re taught when we’re young that we need to receive good grades in school to get into a reputable University so we can get a 9 - 5 job that pays well. Then before we know it, the years have flown by and it’s time to ‘settle down’, get married and start having kids.

Sadly, success is often measured by how much money we make and “living a fulfilling life” is equated to carefree partying and travelling the world. The beauty of success is that it means something different to everyone, we have the ability to define it for ourselves.

Tip: Take the time to figure out what exactly success means to YOU, you can then figure out how to achieve it to live a fulfilling and happy life. The process of figuring this out isn’t easy and it is also very different for each one of us.

Some people go on adventures and some people meditate to look within. No matter what you choose, welcome some alone time, be comfortable being uncomfortable, and take a break from your busy schedule to give yourself some clarity. Have the freedom to go off the beaten path without the fear of being looked down upon or judged.

Footnote: I have recently been decluttering my wardrobe, personal possessions, business resources and reconnected with old favourites that I either hadn’t used or viewed in a number of years. My mission is to get back into the property market as my partner and I have been renting for a number of years post his brain cancer diagnosis, we needed the flexibility. Focussing on ways to budget teaches you values and how to be resourceful when saving for a special event.

How about you, what have you reconnected with recently instead of purchasing something new?

To your success….