When we start improving ourselves, we start improving the world.
You know those characteristics about yourself you like to pretend don’t exist? Like the sharp tongue, the times you’re a little too easy to anger, maybe the cranky behavior you take out on others.
When we start taking a hard look at ourselves and how we make our own lives a little more miserable and then choose to start behaving differently, we have a huge impact on everyone around us.
In 2012 I was depressed and pissed off, and I got into a pattern of believing that it was my now husband that just needed to be better - love me differently, take care of me differently, and in many senses just be different.
Luckily I stumbled on a bit of advice that spring that changed my life and our relationship forever.
If you want to improve your relationship you have to first improve yourself.
This applies to not only our romantic relationships, but also our friendships, our relationships with our coworkers, and even how we interact with the people around us.
That year I took a hard look at the characteristics I didn’t like about myself, and with much humility started accepting them and then working on them.
I started practicing cognitive behavioral therapy, started meditating, prayed more, and started releasing my fear and anger in different ways.
I’m not perfect, and my husband will tell you we still occasionally have an irrational fight or two, but our relationship and my mental state are in a completely different place than they were six years ago.
The joy in our lives is so much greater, and because of that we both spread more joy to those around us.
And it’s all because I decided to start with myself.
Maybe this New Year start with not what you can change on the outside, but what you can change within.
And always if you need a little help you can always send me a note here.
Sending so much love and inspiration your way!
Until next time,
xoxo Kaycee