The first step in deciding what you want for the coming year is to think back over the past year….about the good things, as well as the not-so-good things, that came into your life.
Think also about what you did (or did not do) to achieve those good things, or to bring or allow in those not-so-good things.
We learn from our mistakes as well as our successes, so it’s good to spend a few minutes on each.
If you’re like most people, you are your own worst critic.
Dr. Maxwell Maltz, the famous founder of Psycho-Cybernetics, always said, “See yourself with kind eyes.”
(By the way, I highly recommend all of Dr. Maltz’s books. Try to find the original versions from the 1960s and 1970s. More recent versions of his works have been re-published by people who added their own stuff on top of Maltz’s. His original material is the best resource, from my point of view.)
“See yourself with kind eyes.” So basic, but so difficult to do sometimes.
So, I recommend you pretend you are speaking with your best friend when you inventory the past year. Just as you would with a friend, be honest, but…spend more time congratulating yourself on the good things – the things you achieved this past year. Spend less time on the not-so-good stuff.
And there ARE good things – no matter how challenging your year may have been. You might have to think a little bit, but they’re there.
The next step is to reflect on what you would like to achieve or bring into your life in 2012.
Now, I’m not talking about making New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are for amateurs.
I’m talking about setting meaningful, exciting goals for yourself.
Humans are inherently goal-oriented. So setting, planning for, and working toward goals is a natural, powerful mechanism for moving forward in life. Goals are critical to the process of constructive change and growth.
It’s good to have balance in your goals.
In other words, look across the major areas of your life and think about the outcomes you would like to see in each of them.
As I mentioned yesterday, some key areas to consider include:
-health and fitness;
-family and relationships;
-career or business;
-financial;
-personal development;
-spiritual development;
-contribution and service.
You can have specific goals for any and every area of your life. And one of the most, if not THE most, important area is your health.
In fact, I believe that setting a goal or goals pertaining to your health and fitness is critical to having a positive and constructive year.
Here’s why: If your health or fitness is lousy, it will negatively impact every other area of your life. Your energy levels, your confidence, your belief in your ability to set and achieve goals, are all impacted by your success in establishing and following a solid health and fitness program.
If your health and fitness levels are high, you will possess the energy, confidence, and sense of well-being that literally catapult you forward to the achievement of even your most difficult goals.
The most direct way to this inner power (that you already possess) is through your breath.
Your breath is like a super highway that drives straight to your spirit, emotions and internal energy.
That’s one reason why I place such emphasis on cultivating your breath and energy as a fundamental cornerstone of your overall health and fitness program.
And the Best Breathing Exercises programs – can help you with this. Each one teaches you how to tap into the inner power that you usually ignore or underestimate.
So…Back to setting your goals and planning the outcomes you want to manifest in your life for 2012. Here’s a great way to begin:
Pretend it’s a year from now, and you are looking back over 2012.
What kind of year will you be reviewing? What will you feel really awesome about having achieved or completed? What will you be most excited or proud of?
Usually the first few things that pop into your mind are good candidates for your major goals for the year. Because these are the things that you really want and desire.
And strong, burning desire is the master key to unlocking your internal powers and achieving your goals.
You Can Do It!
Karen
Copyright, Karen Van Ness, 2011