It’s Dr. Kelly Wood, your Balanced Living Health and Wellness expert. My mission is to help women overcome their limitations and achieve total wellness and balanced living: mind,body and spirit. I do this through my blog, speaking and individualized group and VIP Balanced Living programs.

Happy New Year!!!

Depending on the year you had in 2017, you might be relieved it’s over. 2017 had its ups and downs and may have taught some difficult lessons but pat yourself on the back for surviving it all.

If you’re like me, you’re excited about 2018. The start of a New Year brings hope, a sense of a new beginning and a fresh start. Maybe you made resolutions of how you’ll change your life and achieve your dreams in the coming year, however, if you make the same choices and continue unhealthy, self-sabotaging habits, chances are nothing will change.

Why not leave the baggage that weighs you down behind in the old year so that you are truly ready and capable of living your best life in 2018?

What do you need to leave behind?

The list could be endless but let’s discuss 4 things that many of us need to ditch and not take into the New Year.

1. Unhealthy, unbalanced relationships

We sometimes find ourselves in one-sided relationships where we’re the only ones putting in consistent effort.  I highlight consistent because we can be easily fooled by people who drop breadcrumbs to keep us connected so we’re available when they need us. This not only occurs in romantic relationships but also platonic friendships and even in business partnerships.

If you’re the one who’s always calling and arranging the dates or begging the other person to take more interest in you or your life… let the sucker go!

2.  Being paralyzed by fear

We all deal with fear to some level.  The purpose of fear is to motivate us into action such as avoiding danger or being more prepared and focused on a task. Fear is emotional energy that can be used to propel us, but for some, fear can lead to paralysis. Fear of the future, fear of rejection and even fear of failure can prevent us from taking risks and trying new things.

Let’s face it, we will never totally get rid of fear but we don’t have to. Successful people are those who take action and go after their dreams in spite of being afraid.  So can you.

3. Negative self-talk

Sometimes our biggest critics are our own selves. We’re all too familiar with that inner voice which tells us we’re not good (replace with any other desirable quality) enough or that we don’t have what it takes to succeed.

However, what we say to ourselves is very important. It can determine if we achieve the goals we’ve set or if we remain stuck. So in 2018, let’s silence the inner critic and be kinder to ourselves.

4. Living in the past

We rob ourselves of enjoying the present moment or having a better future when we fixate on situations that have already happened. We can’t go back in time and change what occured, we can only move forward.

Being consumed with thoughts of who hurt you or what went wrong and rehearsing your pain will only prevent you for moving on. Leave the past in the past, your future can be better if  you give it a chance.

Make this year your best one yet by letting go of the negative behaviors and people who held you back in 2017.

To learn more about Balanced Living or our programs, please connect with me by visiting  https://www.facebook.com/DrKellyWoodMD/

Physician, Endocrinologist, Diabetes specialist, Health and Wellness expert, Blogger, Speaker! Kelly Wood, MD is board certified in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism. She has many years of experience working with patients to transform and improved their health. She is passionate about teaching others about the interconnections of mind, body, and spirit; and how they can achieve health in all three areas and lead a balanced life.