I love new beginnings, so this marks one of my favorite times of the year. The new year is a chance to start fresh. It's a blank slate to springboard into new ideas, and to re-new some forgotten ones.
A few years ago, I stopped making new years resolutions because I found them to be disempowering and something that was setting me up for failure, disappointment and disaster when by the end of January I had broken one or all of them. Especially those around losing weight, eating healthier or being a better person.
What I started instead, was to use this time to powerfully complete the previous year and as equally as powerfully, invent the new one. I started a creation journal and I keep track of this each year. It's been a great way to look back and read what I declared and then fulfilled upon in the previous year. And to see what was missing that had me not fulfill on others. For example. in January of 2010, I stated that by September 30, 2010, I would be living in LA. And here I am starting 2011 in the City of Angels, having moved here September 25th of 2010. I was blown away when I saw that I had written that as early as January of last year.
There is power in writing things down with paper and pen. It gets your ideas, dreams and intentions out of your head and into reality. It is in your own handwriting, so it becomes a contract that you are making with yourself. And, it helps to build a foundation and set the stage for what you intend to create. It's your blueprint.
Writing down that I would be living in LA and attaching a date to it, set everything in motion for me and created a context for ideas to make that happen, the actions I took and the conversations I had with people about that intention. Pathways then started opening up that led to my intention becoming reality.
I recommend before you start inventing 2011, that you sit quietly and reflect on 2010. Grab a journal, sit in your favorite chair or quiet place, set the mood and begin writing. You can even do this exercise with another person if you wish. What's most important here is to take the time and allow yourself to become present to the last year. What you accomplished and what you didn't, so that you can acknowledge all of it, let it go and leave it in the past. That way, you can truly start the new year open and fresh with a clean slate.
Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Is there anything about that past year that I'm disappointed about, resent or failed to accomplish?
Look to see if there is anything you set out to accomplish but didn't or actions you took that you wish you had or perhaps hadn't. Do a complete inventory. Then acknowledge them, own them, forgive yourself or others and complete these things.
When you feel as though you have captured everything, move on to question number two.
2. Is there anything I have accomplished or acheived over the past year?
This is the place to celebrate, goals that were met, achievements or successes you had and victories over the past. No accomplishment is to big or two small, so capture all of it. Even look to things for example like - when faced with a choice, did you chose another path or do something you wouldn't have previously done.? You want to acknowledge the progress you've made, the person you've become and grown into over the last year, and be proud.
When you feel as though you have captured everything, move on to question number three.
3. What am I leaving in the dust and not bringing with me into the new year?
As you look back on the last year, there may be things that don't want to drag with you. It's important to declare this so that you can move on and not allow yourself to be weighed down by these things. This could include thoughts, behaviors, some of those disappointments that showed up on your list earlier or even relationships. Look at things, experiences and people that have simply become too high cost to you. To create anything new, you must clear the space so that new things can come into your life. Write down what or who you will let go of, so that you can fly higher.
Look one last time to see if there is anything else you want to acknowledge about 2010. If there is more...write it down. If there isn't, then declare 2010 complete and close the book on that chapter of your life.
You are now ready to write the next chapter and create 2011. Which leads to the final question.
4. What are you creating for the year?
Now that you have completed the previous year, you have the power to create the new year as a pure invention and free from needing to fix or change anything. You are the source of your life and you possess all that you need to fulfill on all that you desire. So what are your intentions for the year? Who do you want to be this year? What dreams do you want to turn into reality?
My friend, The Chicago Snob, outlines this so beautifully in his blog, that I thought I'd share his latest post, entitled 2011: What are you Creating, to give you some further ideas.
One final thing...tell others what you are creating for the year. Your network is a powerful tool in helping you to achieve your intentions. They are a source of accountability, your biggest fans, and an abundant resource for ideas and connections.
Have a Happy, Healthy and Hot 2011! May this be your best year yet.
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