Ending one year, Beginning the next
Start by Letting Go
The year is coming to an end. It’s the perfect time to take a few moments to acknowledge what has occurred in your life and then let go – making room for the new beginnings. Every year, on Dec 31st I take time to do a review of my personal year.
Consider these questions:
• Who are the people you are grateful for? How did they enhance your life? How did they support you? Take a moment to send them a ‘thank you’ either physically or energetically.
• What are the things you are grateful for? Review the year and take note, acknowledging each topic as you go.
• How did you grow this year? Where did you challenge yourself? Take a moment to acknowledge your courage and willingness to grow.
• What lessons did you learn? Look back and see that even during the tough experiences, there is something to be learned.
• What did you accomplish? What intentions or goals did you complete? Give yourself a pat on the back.
Write your responses in your journal or on computer. This will help ground your intentions.
Setting Intentions for the New Year
I prefer setting intentions rather than making resolutions. Resolutions are about a decision to do or not do something, often setting us up for unattainable perfection. Goals provide a direction to attain a desired outcome. Intention keep us focus on the present moment journey along the way of achieving our goals. Setting goals with conscious intentions can be a powerful combination, allowing space to learn, grow and adjust along the way. When we incorporate intention, goal planning and realistic actions we can create a winning structure.
Consider these questions:
• What 2-3 qualities of intention are important to you as you move through achieving your goals? Listen to your inner voice as you choose keywords or phrases of intention. Last year, my intentions were integrity and compassion. I meditated on them, I repeated them like a mantra, I affirmed them in my everyday life, and I did my best to live them each and every day.
• What are 3-5 goals you would like to accomplish in the following year? What would support you in living your best life? Do you have physical health goals like regular physical activity, get more rest, eat more vegetables? Relational goals like spending more time with family and friends?
• How will you combine your intention with my goals? With the goal of increasing your business and an intention of being kind even when under pressure, you would set up specific measurable goals for increasing your business while staying conscious of your intention to be kind to yourself and others each step of the way.
• Are micro goals needs to achieve these big picture goals? When our brain sees a goal as too large, it often shuts it down because it sees it as unattainable. That’s when we need to break the bigger goal down into more manageable micro-goals. If your goal is to increase your business, your micro-goals might be to determine your target audience and the best methods of marketing to your audience.
• What 2-3 things will help you stick to your intentions and goals? This is all about accountability. Some examples might be to review your intentions daily; have I lived in the intentions I set out, if not, how can I do a better job of it? Review your micro-goals. Break them down even further if need be. Use a list to prioritize daily tasks. Give yourself a healthy reward when you achieve a milestone or move through resistance.
Take the time to say goodbye to the year with gratitude and set yourself up for success and increased wellbeing in the year ahead. Use conscious intention and achievable goal setting to support you in living your best life!
Would you like some additional support in setting your intentions and accomplishing your goals – set up a coaching session by following this link.
