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Give Yourself a New Year's Gift

© Mari Brodersen

New Year's resolutions are practically destined to be broken, which gives the resolution-maker carte blanch to become discouraged, angry with herself, and possibly depressed. So: Why make New Year's resolutions?

Why not be kind and nurturing to yourself, and give yourself a New Year's gift?

A GIFT OF PERMISSION

For this New Year, give yourself the gift of permission:

Permission to celebrate your achievements. Every achievement, small or large - such as weeding the garden, finishing a big project, doing the dishes, losing weight, etc. - should be celebrated. Even giving yourself a pat on the back is an acknowledgement that you have achieved something.

Permission to eat a healthy, balanced, and delicious diet which will nourish your body. A healthy body can go a long way toward staving off depression.

Permission to do some form of exercise that you enjoy. If you don't like going to the gym or lifting weights or running several miles a day, then don't! Instead, find a type of exercise that you do like - tai chi, dance, walking, swimming, etc. There are so many different ways to get your exercise, you might as choose one that's fun for you. Exercise is known to help prevent depression.

Permission to get a good night's sleep. Give yourself permission to go to bed at a reasonable time every night. If chores are not done by that time - oh, well, they can be done another time. Give yourself permission to let go of your worries and to get a good night's sleep. Not getting enough sleep is one of the causes of depression.

Permission to be still, to daydream, or to contemplate whatever you want. Even a few minutes a day will be good for you.

Permission to express your creativity. Not all of us are great artists or writers or musicians, but we all can and do express our creativity in countless ways. Gardening, cooking, homemaking, sewing, raising a child, writing a letter, making a handmade card for a friend are just a very few ways in which we can express our creativity. Creative expression can help us avoid depression.

Permission to honor your spiritual and religious beliefs. Spirituality is a very personal thing, a connection between yourself and the Divine. Honor this through prayer, meditation, celebrating holy days, and in any way that is appropriate for you and your beliefs. A healthy spiritual life helps protect us from depression.

Permission to spend time with the people whom you love most, and who also love you. You need to express your love for others, and you need to give yourself permission to receive love and encouragement from others. People with good social support are less likely to become depressed.