Okay folks, I figure you know that I can't let a New Year pass by without taking the opportunity to give you a prod about making a few 'tweaks' to your life.
So whether you're a New Years' Resolution Junkie or Cynic, I think now is a perfect time to address whatever aspect(s) of your life could benefit from a little attention (or a complete over-haul) in the year ahead. But before focusing on what you want from the year ahead, I think its worth taking a minute to do a 'mini audit' of the year just gone.
2007 Mini-Audit
1. Your personal relationships: did you enjoy a fun, loving and honest relationships with family and friends, where any issues that came up were worked through with respect?
2. If you have children, were you a great role model for them, regularly spending time with them and really enjoying each other's company?
3. Your professional relationships - did you build trust in your relationships and have integrity in your commitments? Did you resolve conflict in ways that respected others dignity and bring out the best in those you worked with?
4. Your occupation - did you feel a sense of purpose and passion for the work you did?
5. Your physical wellbeing - did you enjoy the sense of wellbeing and vigor that you aspire to have?
6. Your finances - did you move forward financially, spend responsibly and invest/save wisely?
7. Your spirit - did you enjoy peace of mind and the 'centeredness' that comes from taking time for yourself regularly?
8. Your leisure time - did you enjoy your 'downtime' whether engaged in outdoor activities, with friends or other enjoyable pursuits?
9. Your contribution - did you feel like you made a meaningful contribution with your time & talents?
Given that we humans are programmed to resist change (even change for the better) the 'New Year - New You Challenge' below provides seven steps to help you transform those aspects of your life you'd like to improve. The most important step though is the first one - acknowledging that all is not well and making a commitment to action; to doing what it takes to have more of what you want and less of what you don't - whether it be love handles on your hips, quality time with your family or stress in your career.
The "New Year - New You" Challenge
Don't just think it, Ink it! I really encourage you to invest 30 minutes in the 365 days that will comprise 2008! View it as a belated "Christmas Gift to Self". Then get out a pen and paper (or your journal) and write down your answers to the following questions. You can repeat this exercise for each area of your life you would like to create significant changes (i.e. improvement) in '08.
1. Make a Commitment: Which area(s) of your life are you committed to make real and lasting changes in 2008? What is it exactly that you would like to be different? Don't let what's realistic' get in your way; write down whatever it is you really truly would like to have in your life.
2. Acknowledge Barriers: What's kept you from effectively addressing this issue until now (i.e. what has been the pay-off that's kept you resigned to the status quo)? What fears, concerns or self-doubts have kept you from taking effective actions? How much it has cost you (in terms of your inability to fully enjoy your life) for not doing so?
3. Clarify What You Really Want: Imagine you could have this aspect of your life made 'perfect' with the wave of my magic wand (on loan from my daughter's dress-up box) and describe what it would be like? Don't skip this even though it sounds silly. Just let your imagination run wild keeping in mind that for anything to become reality you must first imagine it.
4. Imagine Scenario A: Take 5 minutes to visualize and really feel how you would feel if you had whatever it is you yearn for. How will you feel if a year from now you have accomplished this goal and/or made the changes that you would like? How would it impact your experience of each day including how you feel about your future? And even if you haven't been able to achieve 'exactly' what you set out to, how will you feel simply knowing that you have given this your best efforts? I strongly recommend making time to come back to this exercise regularly in the year ahead as reconnecting with whatever it is that really inspires you - that makes you feel truly alive, purposeful and passionate in your life - is the singular most vital ingredient to staying on track toward your goals.
5. Imagine Scenario B: Now take a few minutes to imagine how you will feel if you do nothing and the circumstances that you are dissatisfied with now are, 12 months from now, the same or, as often happens, worse. How will you feel about yourself and your life and what will the impact be on your experience of life? Is that what you want?
- If fitness is your concern (and accompanying pounds) then it might be joining your nearest gym or buying a pair of sneakers
- If you want more time with your children then schedule it in your diary or rework other commitments
- If there was an issue with your spouse or work colleague it might scheduling time with them for a conversation to discuss the issue
7. Declare Commitment: Get Support! When you have people around you who believe in your ability to succeed, it creates an environment in which success is easier to achieve. The simplest way is to share with someone (or ideally lots of "someone's") what you've committed to and ask them to hold you accountable to the actions you've written down. You can also join a club of like minded individuals or consider hiring a coach/personal trainer/professional to get you into action. At the very least, get yourself a copy of my book Find Your Courage! as a resource to keep you from falling into passivity, resignation and "what's the point?" defeat.
Helen Keller once said that "Life is a daring adventure or nothing". With each passing year I realize more and more that life passes by incredibly fast and with that thought, it firms my resolve, to live it fully. It's very easy to make excuses for why we should settle for less than we really want - from ourselves, from others and from our experience of life.
At days end, the life you are living is the one you have chosen to live. If right now there are things in your life that aren't as you'd like them to be then I encourage you not to settle for less than what you want out of life.
Make 2008 your year - your year to raise your sights higher, to make new choices, take new actions and dare to live your life with more boldness, more courage and more daring.
As always, Live Boldly, Shine Brightly!
