We are coming to the very end of 2008. A crazy thought, as so much has happened in the past twelve months. An election, an economic transformation, births and deaths, and the unfolding of each of our individual stories.
It feels like the year has gone by so quickly, and yet when I look at where I was this time last year, that feels like eons ago.
Now is an excellent time to take stock of where you have been, and where you want to be in the future. I make a list of accomplishments each year. It's important to celebrate what we have achieved. All too often, we feel pushed to plow ahead indefinitely without any break or recognition. Don't short change yourself. Write down all the goals you reached this year, whether you had set them in advance or not.
And then, take the time to reflect on what comes next. Below, I'll share what has been useful to me as I look forward to a whole new year of possibility. We all have the chance to grow this year. Let's get started now!
This image is by Sir Mervs.
One of the things that helps me the most in planning for a new year is assessing the old one in detail. I received a wonderful exercise from a classmate in my Conscious Bookkeeping course that I took last year, and it was enormously helpful in transitioning from 2007 to 2008. I plan to use this exercise again. I have updated all the dates to be current and would love to share this with you:
Download 2008_Completions_2009_New_Beginnings .
Take your time and think through each of the questions. Getting your mind around an entire year takes more than a few minutes, and developing a vision for your next year is something you want to play with and enjoy. Here are some things I have enjoyed in the past as a way to get inspired for a New Year's Vision:
- Watching films that inspire me
- Reading motivational or prosperity-minded books
- Guided meditation tapes and CDs
- Taking baths and letting myself sit and dream about a new year
- Eating alone at a favorite restaurant with a journal and free-writing
- Tearing images and pages out of magazines that feel connected to my intentions and posting them on my vision bulletin board
- Having a Vision Dinner with friends, where we all share dreams for the upcoming year
Let yourself think big. After all, you have an entire year to complete these goals. The best way to make sure you reach the completion point of a project is to break everything down into small, manageable, and fun steps. With a whole year to play with, many things are possible, and if you have several goals, you can lay them out in a way that all are accomplished without stress or strain!
I hope you enjoy the handout and the thoughts above. Please share your own rituals and methods of planning ahead for the next year. I always love to learn more about how people honor this very exciting time of year.
I look forward to hearing from you!
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