Claudia LeBaron Islas

​Around this time of the year we end up doing things we are “supposed” to do, or that are “expected” of us, so we end up not honoring ourselves and possibly not even enjoying the holidays.

​The holidays are supposed to be a good time with our friends and loved ones, but unless you take good care of your energy you won’t be enjoying any of them. 

​In life there are some tasks worth repeating over and over. But there are also some tasks that are not worth a bit. Identify those tasks that are hindering you and once and for all get out of the loop.

​You’d be surprised at how many things we do over and over without being completely aware. Some are positive, some are neutral, and some are hurtful. Learn to identify them and how to handle them.

​We have the best intention to improve some area of our lives in the year that’s starting and for some reason the end goal seems to be so way out of reach, why is it that? 

​Giving some thought to our New Year’s Resolutions and be prepared to do the work might just be what we need.

​New Years are opportunities to begin again; opportunities to try again, to do it all over again; and opportunities to correct direction. Have you thought about what you're going to do this time?

​Use these few first days of the year to get clear and intentional about what you want to put in the clear glass of your life.

​How are you going to know how your year went if you don’t sit down and review it? Take, at the most, one hour of one day during the last few days of the year, and focus on what truly happened for you during the last twelve months. You’re going to be surprised with what you find.

​At about the end of the year we tend to analyze how the past twelve months went for us. But instead of focusing on what we said we were going to do and we didn’t, let’s do something more positive. Let’s review the year and focus on the great things we did do.

​Sometimes something happens and what once was very important to you, no longer is. What do you do then? Do you stick with it, do you adjust to it, or do you just abandon ship?

​It’s very common for us to be in this situation where our priorities change. Knowing what to do and feeling strong about it will determine the level of success in your life. Remember, you’re the only one in charge and responsible for your life.

​The funeral is over and everyone is back to their own lives again. What do you do now? What do you do after everyone is gone? How long do you keep crying for? How long will the pain last? What can you learn from this experience? Will you ever be back to normal again?

​Death exists as a sure way for us to grow spiritually. It’s up to each one of us to review and analyze the life and death of a loved one to find the teachings we need to learn and overcome. And no, you will never be back to your old normal again, but you will be living a new normal. And it’s up to you allowing your spiritual growth that will determine how your new normal will be.

​When a loved one dies you feel as if part of you has been frozen and then shattered into pieces that will never be again. But you can still continue to live with what you have left.

​Keep reading so you can learn what I’ve learned, understood and experienced during the past days after I lost a loved one.

​Dying is such a taboo subject that we don’t even want to talk about it in fear that we might be calling it forward. But it is only after we talk about it, and understand it, that we can all live a little more at peace before we lose our loved ones, and even after.

​So, let’s talk more about death so when someone departs from this world the ones that remain are not living in pain, regret, vengeance, hatred, despair and eternal grief.