Happy New Year. And welcome to 2018; hopefully a fabulous year for us all.
There is something lovely about being able to draw a line in the sand, reset and start again. Of course you can do this at any time during the year, but there’s something special about the down time of the Christmas period that lends itself to a bit of introspection and reflection.
If you can- spend a quiet five minutes on your own – reflecting and honouring how far you’ve come; even if 2017 wasn’t exactly the year you hoped for.
Your word
It’s become a bit of a thing over the last few years to have a word that defines the intent with which you want to live the year ahead.
I like this concept – it’s simple, it provides clarity and a guiding hand or light when you’re not entirely sure what you should do.
In 2017 my word(s) were “be brave”. Whenever I felt like woosing out of something, those words popped in to my mind and (usually) gave me the courage to do what I needed.
It’s one of those exercises that provides just the right amount of intent without too much palaver.
Give it a go.
My 2018 word is connection.
Your goals
New Year’s resolutions have a bad name. Usually because they are vague, onerous and often difficult to pull off.
Don’t be put off though. There’s so much research around how being clear on what you want helps you to both achieve it and enjoy the process (which is as important).
There are three areas I am focusing on for this year – family, wellbeing and the area that I am lucky enough to call work. Each area has something quite specific I am looking forward to working on.
Importantly, it’s not a punitive process – but one where I can celebrate progress and movement forward.
Permission to Dream
My Permission to Dream programme is one way that you can move forward in 2018 with clarity and excitement about what you want to achieve, and then relish the journey forward.
Those that have joined already are already commenting on how being able to clarify the things that are most important to them for the year ahead and work on those in a meaningful way is already giving them purpose and enthusiasm.
One other thing
But…
Sometimes there is something to be said for just “being”.
If things are such that any of the above seems more like hard work than something that inspires and engages, then perhaps it’s a message to just “be” for a while. Words, goals, dreams will all still be there in a month or two.
New Years is a good time to do it – but it’s not the only time by any means. Sometimes taking the pressure off is what’s necessary.
My Wrap Up
Whilst there has been much that has been challenging about 2017, it also presented amazing opportunities on the professional front.
I have loved the clients I have worked with – both on the coaching and the consulting front. It’s a privilege and a joy.
It’s been fun working more in the media – both on the radio and appearing on the channel 9 news more regularly.
And as always, being able to write – here, for other blogs and in the more mainstream media – allows me my creative output. Watch out for at least one new book in 2018.
See you in 2018.
For those that read this blog every week – a big thank you. Whilst writing is a joy – knowing that people read what I write is even better 🙂
As always, if you’d like to get in touch – you can click here. If you’d like to read any of the 250+ blog posts on this site, you can click here. If you’d like to buy one of my books, you can click here. And if you’d like to sign up to permission to dream, you can click here.
Wishing you a wonderful start to the new year. Welcome to 2018!
