Your Daily Focus: Resolutions
One sweet dream came true today. – The Beatles, from You Never Give Me Your Money
Most of us will be writing New Year’s resolutions or new goals for the New Year. I have an idea for you in preparation for that. Before you write about all that you desire to have come into your life, make a list of all the resolutions and goals that came true for 2010.
Common New Year’s resolutions are “I want to make more money,” I want to lose weight,” I want to quit smoking,” I want to be in better health,” or I want a new lover.” What I am suggesting you do is write about the weight you lost last year, for example the month where you dropped eight pounds, even if you gained it all back. Write about the 24 hours you quit smoking last year. Write about the exercising you did in 2010, and the times your body felt more fit and more healthy, even if just for a while. Write about the love that you have in your life now and all through 2010… all the love you receive and all the love you give.
Write about the money you made last year, especially all the new money that showed up that was a new pathway from 2009. Write about each new pathway that opened up for you. The more you reflect the more it will surprise you… money that was gifted to you, a small raise, a new job, any insurance or tax refund, or money from something you sold.
By focusing on the positive aspects of 2010, three things will happen for you. You will be of the right energy to go ahead and write about what you want for 2011. You will also more easily attract something if your attention is on the fact that you have already attracted it. In reality, that is a way of incorporating the energy of “acting as if” you have already achieved a new goal, because you actually already have. And finally, it just feels better to be in appreciation of what you have accomplished, rather than focusing on the absence of something in your life.
Perhaps after you do this, you will not even need the New Year’s resolutions… you will be able to work off the list of things you accomplished in 2010 and simply want more of.
RIck,
I would like to share the perspective I gave my clients in our first meeting of the year. I know most people think about Resolutions for 2011 that they would like to commit to, in hopes for some change in the New Year.
However, I’d like to propose a different idea. Something I learned from one of my mentors many years ago…New Years Resolutions make life more complicated, stress you out and when you don’t have quite the success executing or keeping them, it can be frustrating.
All that said, New Year’s Resolutions are often counter-productive, in my eyes.
But, what mentor taught me was to “simply” Life at the first of each New Year. Focus on eliminating certain things that get in the way of achieving what you truly want to achieve. You can be more productive, liberated, and ready for the most inspiring, focused, and exciting New Year ever.
This significant shift in thinking carries with it very specific differences in strategy and approach that will lead you to implementation of your best life by taking action and ultimately seeing real growth in your life, both personally and professionally.
If you are willing to commit to some simplifying your life, I believe you will be amazed at the results.
I love how you share your idea of reflecting on what you accomplished in the previous year and use that as a spring board for the New Year. If we all keep looking at this in different ways the path to success will be more clear.
Kevin
I like this idea Kevin. Let’s make New Year’s Day “Simplification Day!”