If I had resolutions...

A timely chakra card, new year's resolutions, and more...

Good morning,

It’s a month into the new year and I think my resolutions for this year have come into focus. It came in a greeting card my mom sent the other week to say hello. In the letter, she included a chakra card that she thought I might like. This simple card landed for me; I see myself either embodying or striving to live out the four points it listed.

5th Chakra:
Throat Chakra
Expressing My Feelings

• I allow my emotions to be fully experienced. I acknowledge feelings of grief, anger or fear and I make a conscious effort to express my emotions or resolve them within myself so that I can move forward freely.

  • I’ve made it a point to meditate daily as well as carve out time just to sit and be for a few minutes at a time. I also notice throughout the day if/when I take a conscious breath, i.e., I might be driving and suddenly think to myself, as I breathe in deeply, ‘This is a conscious breath.’ I am aware of my breathing. This enables me to feel more consciously and express/resolve emotions within myself.

• I let the unconditional love experienced in my heart be expressed through my voice and my creativity.

  • Continuing with this newsletter: last week I woke up early to write and send it before heading to work. I wanted to skip it last week but decided to write it anyway. Surprisingly, last week’s letter drew more likes, comments, and direct emails than I’d received in a while. It was a good reminder to show up and do the work because I never know what will resonate with those of you who read this (I thought my Brian Eno essay was one of my better ones, but it got hardly any traction; last week’s I thought was fine if not a little slapdash, but folks seemed to like it a lot). I’ve also taken action on two other creative projects: album artwork and liner notes for two new Future Hits albums and the audiobook version of my pickleball essay collection, allgoodnoworries.

• I let those close to me know how much I love and care for them.

  • I believe I do. Handwritten cards are still a significant way I communicate, and I sent out physical copies of Jarvis’s class picture this year to aunts and uncles and felt really happy to express my care for the many relatives who support and love my young son, as well as me. I’ve also felt compelled lately to drop texts or calls to friends I haven’t connected with in a bit, and I always feel happy receiving these kinds of gestures.

• I forgive all those who have done me wrong in the past as well as forgiving myself, as I could not have responded in a more evolved way than I was able to at the time.

  • I’ve had to work hard to forgive the handful of people who derailed my life a few years ago and believe I’ve been able to fully do so, thanks to the loving support of many people in my life. The latter task, to forgive myself in light of not being able to “respond in a more evolved way than I was able to at the time,” is much more challenging for me. I was a part of a healing group last year and the feedback I routinely got from my peers was: You’re very hard on yourself! Be gentler on yourself! Be kinder to yourself! This is something I will continue to work on this year, and what that looks like is being at peace with how my life is shaping up and surrendering to the process, living one day, one next right action at a time.

As always, I welcome your comments either on my Substack page or to me directly. I’m curious what your resolutions might be and how they’re shaping up so far, and also if this chakra card speaks to you, I’d like to know how!

Thanks for reading.

Until next time,

Matt

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Reading: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Watching: Secret Mall Apartment

Listening: The Alchemist’s discography, Talk Talk’s East of Eden

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matthewleebaron.com