January Affirmations 2024

“It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.” -William Ernest Henley

First of all, I can’t believe I’ve been doing these quotes for 8 years now and this one hasn’t come up already. There are probably more than a few of you who recognize this quote. It’s the ending of a poem called Invictus, and it’s a very popular poem. I’ve heard of people being introduced to it through their fraternities or other groups; I, however, first learned it in the 7th grade. Ms. Gardner’s Drama class. As an assignment, we each had to memorize and recite this poem in front of the class.

As little as I remember about my adolescent experience, overall, this is a moment in my childhood that’s highlighted in my brain. This poem stood out and has remained in my memory forever. As I sit with the words now, it makes Me think about the truth in the concept that our lives are pre-written, to an extent. I was always meant to be who I am. Those words stood out to me at 12, because it emphasized something within the core of Me.

Those final words - “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul” - that is the summary of my core beliefs. It is the essence of who I really am, and I’ve lost that essence many times, but I’ve always made my way back. This is how I know that this belief is my home. We can look to who we were as children to find our purpose; after 8 years of sharing quotes, I remembered this one. One I learned in 7th grade, in a class that exposed Me to things that I’d never let go of.

As I write this, it is Sunday, December 3, 2023. A couple of weeks ago, I was thinking about “Dry January”, a tradition I’ve participated in plenty of times. This time, though, I thought about other themes my January could follow. I decided on what I’m calling “Love & Light January” - a month dedicated to Me walking my talk and getting back to who I know I am.

I spent a lot of 2023 being anxious, sad, and generally negative and pessimistic. This isn’t who I am. It didn’t feel good because I was out of alignment. I know that I hold some darkness, some pain, some resistance, some bitterness. I know that the expressions of such does not make Me those things. I see that there is room for balance there. Instead of overwhelming myself with the expressions of those experiences, I’m choosing now to hold them in the same space as my essence. I am Love and Light.

In my Love and Light January, my intention is to take control of my experience. So, I’m not consuming anything that I deem negative. For the time being, that will mean not consuming some of my favorite content. It will mean less (or probably no) time on social media, and absolutely no news coverage. It will mean curating music in very specific ways and limiting what movies and tv I watch. The rule is, it has to make Me feel good for Me to consume it.

My birthday is in February, so I’m curious to see how I will walk into my personal new year after spending so much time intentionally choosing positive experiences. I am excited to use this “Day 1” to set a new tone. Here are the affirmations I intend to use throughout the month:

I’ve decided that my life is good.

I attract experiences that feel good to Me.

Everything is working for my very highest good.

I remain in gratitude.

My life is filled with Love and Light.

I experience positivity everywhere I turn.

I am here. Filled with positive energy, filled with joy, wanting and needing for nothing.

Sending You Love into this Day 1 and beyond. Make it yours.