I’ve always been a fan of unique New Year’s resolutions. I’m not talking about losing lots of weight or quitting a vice cold turkey. Don’t get me wrong – these resolutions are great, but they’re large goals that can feel overwhelming. That’s why once February comes around, most of us “forget” that we made them!
I do love resolutions, though. I’m not sure if it’s the hope that comes with a fresh start or just the idea that you can really change your life for the better. It’s probably both!
And so lately, I’ve been thinking about some unique New Year’s resolutions for 2022. I’m talking about resolutions that are small and different enough to try each day, but over time can amount to so much happiness. Each of these topics was inspired by my work as a NYC boudoir photographer over this past year… so read on!
Just be you.
Over the course of 2021, I got to meet so many women and men who wanted to use a photo session to reconnect with who they truly were. Some of them wanted a portraiture session for a chance to get dressed up and feel amazing, while others wanted to lose most of the clothing for a sensual boudoir shoot. During both types of sessions, I received feedback like…
“I am so happy I did this for me. To celebrate the body that I have now and to take myself out of my comfort zone.”
“Evgenia helped me to reconnect with an energy, an inner beauty and power that I had lost touch with, an unexpected but profound outcome of this experience. Something happened in that room that’s hard to describe, but for the first time in a very long time — I FELT my beauty.”
My clients’ own words are why I think one of the most unique New Year’s resolutions is to try harder to be yourself.
It may sound like such a simple thing, but it can make a massive difference in your life. You have to remember that there’s no one else in this world who can be you.
Sometimes we get so caught up in trying to fit in or do what we think will make others happy that we forget who we really are. Maybe 2022 needs to be the year we go back to the basics and remember our own personal goals, dreams, and desires before anything else.
Embrace your flaws.
I’m not perfect. I know this. And that’s ok. We’re all human, and we all have flaws. Some people are insecure about their imperfections, which is understandable because they may feel like it sets them apart from everyone else. But the truth is that nobody expects you to be perfect at all. In fact, your imperfections make you unique and beautiful! If you embrace what makes you different, I promise that other people will too!
“I have never seen myself so beautiful. So sexy. So fierce. And mind you this coming from a girl that doesn’t even like to wear bikinis or take selfies.”
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Whether you’re comparing yourself to a friend, a co-worker, or even a stranger on social media, it’s so easy to get caught up in the comparison trap. We all do it at one point or another… but the key is knowing when you’re doing too much of it.
When you focus too much on what other people have and how they live their lives, you can start feeling down about things going on in your own life. The hardest thing about comparing yourself to others is that you really don’t know what they’re going through privately. You’re only looking at a few surface-level aspects of their lives.
To stop comparing yourself to others, first start by identifying what areas you may be focusing on in which other people are better than you. It could be your weight, relationship status, job success, and so on. Once you identify these things, take a step back and ask yourself why they bother you so much. Try to focus on all of the wonderful things YOU have to be thankful for instead of looking at what others have.
Be proud of your body.
It’s no secret that we live in a society where the media and social media often portray unrealistic expectations of what people should look like. It can be hard to feel confident about your body, especially when you’re comparing yourself to models on magazine covers or celebrities on Instagram.
Learning to love your body is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight and it takes time, patience, and effort. But the end result is worth every bit of the work you put into it.
The first step to loving your body is accepting that there are things about yourself that you just don’t like. This might be something as simple as not liking how much you weigh or being frustrated with stretch marks from a pregnancy or acne scars from when you were younger.
In 2022, remind yourself daily that you’re beautiful no matter what size you are, or how many stretch marks or scars you have. Instead, start noticing what parts of your appearance you love. Take note of the features that you get complimented on the most. Focus on those and learn to accentuate them. You’ll be amazed at how your perspective can shift when you do that!
“I stopped fretting over whether my arm would look skinny or if I was on my ‘good side’ in the photos — suddenly, I understood that being beautiful isn’t about those details. It’s a power, a mood that can be channeled, and it’s within all of us.”
Love yourself a little (or a lot) more.
This is a big one. In 2022, try to love yourself more by forgiving yourself when you make mistakes and by letting go of guilt that isn’t yours to carry. Try to find things about yourself that you like and focus on them instead of what bothers you about yourself. And lastly, practice loving thoughts about your body, mind, past actions, and future possibilities. All of these things combined will help you grow as a person and feel amazing about yourself.
“It’s been on my bucket list for a while now to do a boudoir shoot, and this year, as part of my New Year resolutions, I decided this was going to be the year. I decided this was all for me, a birthday gift to myself, and embarked on my internet research to find my photographer. I found Evgenia, and to put it simply, SHE IS THE BEST.
From the very first email, she’s very responsive and answers any and all questions you may have. The entire experience from beginning to end was AMAZING.
Her website? Beautiful. Her catalog? Beautiful. And the images that resulted from the shoot? HOLY CRAP I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT WAS ME. I have zero experience modeling and posing, and she tells you EXACTLY what to do. She makes you feel so comfortable that you basically forget you’re in your underwear.”
The most unique New Year’s resolutions also include treating yourself to a photoshoot!
Photoshoots are a great way to celebrate your body. You’ll feel empowered by the experience, and in turn you’ll be able to share that feeling with others. Why not take this opportunity for self-love in the new year?
Contact me today and let’s get started making 2022 the best, most empowering year you could ever imagine!
