Releasing 2022

The closing of a year can bring a mixed bag of emotions. No matter what this year has brought you this year it is always important to have a practice of releasing the year so you can move into the next with a little bit of a cleared mind and fresher heart. I am going to lead you through a releasing exercise that you can do as you are reading this blog post. Now before we get started I want to ask something of you, can you release any judgements on how his is supposed to look? Can you go into this exercise with an open mind? This might be more difficult for those of you that have a tense relationship with 2022. If this is you, I want you to try this first. Pause, say out loud what 2022 has been for you… do it with me, 2022 has been_______. Take a belly breath. Now I want you to think of the next best thought you can have about 2022. Not the best, don’t get wild here, just the next best thought. For example, if your answer was 2022 has been sh%t. Maybe your next best thought is “I learned xyz or I know xyz now”. Now for the opposite standpoint, if you approach everything from a super positive place I want you to recognize where there could be some areas of opportunity for growth in the new year. Ready to dive in? Here we go.

First I want you to take a deep breath. No really do it. No seriously do it. Breath in for a count of 4(1-2-3-4) hold for a count of 4 (1-2-3-4) and then breath out for a count of 4 (4-3-2-1). This technique is called box breathing, Navy Seals use this technique you can learn more about it here. Now notice your surroundings. I want you to slowly move your head to the right… SLOWLY… and then slowly move your head to the left. Notice your surroundings, what colors, textures, do you see. DO not rush this, this is allowing your body to come out of fight or flight and letting your nervous system realize that no one is chasing you, you are OKAY. You are safe right now.

Now, I want you to close your eyes, if this does not feel comfortable I want you to gaze down at your knee caps and soften your gaze. I want you to think about an introspective activity that would feel good. Maybe it is painting, journaling, pulling pictures out of magazines, looking through old photos, drawing, working with your hands, playing in the dirt. WHATEVER you are being pulled to. Maybe it is none of these things but I want you to take that and imagine yourself doing something creative.

Next, I want you to go and do said thing. Now this does not need to be a big ordeal, no seriously you don’t need to run to the store. If you want to paint, get creative use what you have in your area that you are in, get some dirt and water or some coffee grounds and water. It doesn’t have to be a big thing, this is supposed to be fun remember? Let it be creative, not stressful. Release the expectation that this needs to be a “thing” or that you need to run to the store to do it. Because fun fact, you probably won’t do it if you make it a thing, or you will 3 months from now. (speaking from experience here). Tip: if you cannot come up with something. maybe writing yourself a letter about what you lessons you learned form 2022 and what knowledge you hope to gain from 2023.

Next, I want you to lean into this creative experience and when you are doing said experience think about 2022. Let all the emotions come: was it hard? Growth filled? Sad? Happy? Scary? Anxiety inducing? let all the emotions be there. Now as you notice your emotions I want you to put on a timer for 1 minute and let yourself feel all the sad emotions. PAUSE. And notice where in your body are you feeling this pain. Your jaw, stomach, chest, hands, toes, fingernails, scalp? Where is it.

Now that you have noticed where you are feeling this in your body I want you to get up and move around, shake your body out, dance, big breaths, make noise, let it GO. Let that stuffff goooo. Better out than in so do whatever your body is calling you to do. Maybe it wants to move in a different way than you have done before, get out of your head.

Remember the point of this exercise is to release the 2022 energy and get ready for big shifts in 2023. You are doing this while you are doing something creative. So if you are journaling I would be writing out what you are feeling & releasing. If you are painting, pain what you are feeling & releasing. If you are ripping out magazines pull out pictures of what you are feeling & releasing. Let GO of expectations, this is not being graded, this is for YOU only.

You did it, you are making it! Remember you are doing the best you can with the tools in your toolkit. If this exercise was hard for you to feel into your body this is what I help my 1:1 clients dive deeper into. In my work with my clients they learn how to create safety in their body, release old emotions out of their body, calm their nervous system and so much more.

If you are wanting to dive into this work deeper, apply to work 1:1 here.

You got this!

Ali Kates & Co.