Ten Steps to Prepare for a Magnificent 2011

Article contributed by Jenny Devine.

As December roars by at break-neck speed the last thing most of us have time for is focusing on the year ahead and how we might influence the type of year that awaits us. But the reality is that with a little forethought and planning we can dramatically alter the course of our lives and begin 2011 from a place of excitement and empowerment.

1. Dream – allow a vision to form of what it is you would truly love to create and experience in your life next year. Our visions inspire and motivate us so that the very thought of them lifts us forward with momentum. True visions are not birthed from our intellect so have fun visioning…let your imagination play! What are you truly capable of? If your close your eyes for a moment and breathe deeply what can you see yourself doing next year that would excite and inspire you?

2. See a goal that you could set that would lead you directly towards your vision. Many people fail at their goals because they build them around a problem that needs fixing. Try birthing your goal out of your vision so it becomes a stepping stone to something you love. Once you have your goal make sure it is clear, achievable and time-lined. Then set some action steps that will ensure you keep moving towards it.

3. Take 100%responsibility for your life. Understand that no one is coming to your rescue: the only person who can truly make any real change in your life is you!

4. Become aware of what you would need to let go of. What stands in the way of you having a magnificent year? Is it excuses, rationalisations and justifications? Perhaps it’s old limiting beliefs or the same repetitive, undermining, mental chatter. Maybe it’s habits or behaviours or ways of talking that no longer serve you. What could you let go of that would liberate you and make you feel great about yourself?

5. Embrace the concept of integrity. If, from the 1st of January, you chose to live a life where you were consistently in alignment with your own deepest truth and values what would change for you?

6. Forgive yourself and forgive others. Are you still beating yourself up for something you did weeks/months/years ago and are ashamed of? What do you need to forgive yourself for? Are you holding onto resentment towards another? Remember that resentment is like drinking little bit of poison everyday and hoping the other person will die. Go on, forgive them and liberate yourself.

7. Shift your perspective. Do you tend to look for what’s right in life or what’s wrong? What if you decided that from the start of January you would choose to look for what’s right in every situation, even the ones you’ve judged as being wrong or bad up until now?

8. Put yourself first. We weren’t taught this as children but if we don’t learn to take care of our own needs first we are much less able to take care of others, contribute, be of service or in generally contribute to the world.

9. Connect to something greater than yourself. We are a tiny part of a much greater whole yet our ego driven intellects would have us believe we are largely alone. We are not! Nurture a sense of wider connection with whatever feels meaningful to you whether that is the glory of nature or a loving universal power.

10. Lighten up. I’m sure we were never meant to take this journey of life so very seriously. I don’t know about you but I’m planning on laughing my way into 2011!

Blessings for a joyful Christmas season and magnificent 2011!
Jenny

www.jennydevine.co.nz e-mail:coach@jennydevine.co.nz