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FEATURE ARTICLE
The Top Ten on How To
Create Your Best Year Yet!
With the dramatic changes in our economy and in our society, it's no
wonder that many of us are asking ourselves, "Now what do I do?" while
looking for more order and certainty in an uncertain world.
The New Year brings the opportunity for change. For many us, it's the
time to think about resolutions. Often these resolutions are the same
ones that we make every year or the ones we only stick to for a few
weeks.
If it's ever been a struggle to create what you want most in the New
Year or to keep to your resolutions, consider that your goals and the
strategy to achieve them may not serve you best.
Resolution is defined as, "The process of reducing to simpler form."
Which brings us to the paradox of resolutions: instead of simplifying
our lives, we wind up dumping more tasks, goals or projects on our "to
do list" thinking that by achieving more, our lives will be more
fulfilling and successful in the New Year.
To make and keep your resolutions with the least amount of effort, start
with upgrading your attitude and your strategy to achieve greater
results. To begin, here are ten resolutions that will enable you to
maximize your potential and manage your life.
1.
Quit Tolerating.
To
attract new and better opportunities and results, first clear out what's
clogging up your life to create the space for the better stuff to show
up. List the things you're putting up with that limit productivity,
cause stress and waste time and energy. Then determine what needs to
happen to eliminate these tolerances. If you no longer accept being
dragged down by unwanted events, problems or other people's behavior,
you'll stop wasting time managing situations that shouldn't be there
anyway.
2.
Play Your Game.
The
best game to play is the one where you make up your own rules. If you're
encountering resistance in reaching some goals, chances are it's either
something you really don't want to be doing, an old goal that may not
serve you or you're operating from someone else's agenda! Take the time
to discover what YOU truly want by aligning your goals with the
priorities in your life rather than the "Should's."
3.
Create A Winning Routine.
Busy with tasks that consume you? Feel that you're fighting the clock?
Design a weekly routine that complements your goals so you can focus on
the activities that support your objectives and enhance your lifestyle.
This includes planning for the unplanned as well. Develop a healthier
relationship with time by under promising on personal/professional
deadlines so that time becomes your ally instead of your adversary.
Simplify.
4.
Have Fun.
Let's face it; this isn't our practice life! Are you doing the things
that bring you the most joy? Find time every day that's yours. Shift
your binoculars around to magnify your achievements rather than what you
didn't do. Otherwise, when's the big payoff?
5.
Deepen Your Learning.
While we attract what we need to learn, we often resist the lessons. If
similar problems keep reappearing, we missed the lesson. To accelerate
success, learn from every experience and person in order to grow and
move onto a new and better path.
6.
Expand Your Vision.
What does your ideal life look like? The fact is, we never grow past
what we feel is possible. Let go of your current perceptions that are
inhibiting your ability to explore greater possibilities and achieve
more. Clarify what success looks like in every area of your life
(career, relationships, health, environment, etc.). It's a lot easier to
create something great when you know exactly what you're looking for.
Besides, it's your canvass. What masterpiece do you want to create?
7.
Transcend Your Beliefs.
The Korean memorial says, "Freedom is not free." This holds true for our
thoughts as well. Old limiting beliefs often keep us prisoner,
preventing us from creating greater successes. Your outlook determines
your outcome. So if you believe, "The past is responsible for the
quality of my life today," "Success requires sacrifice," or "This is as
good as it gets," consider challenging these assumptions and replacing
them with healthier ones that would better serve you. Upgrade and direct
your beliefs without them controlling you. (Otherwise, we'd still
believe that our flat Earth is the center of the universe.).
8.
Do Complete Work.
You
don't have to achieve every resolution at once. Instead of stopping and
starting something, pick one thing you want to change, create or finish
and commit to seeing it through to completion. Then move on to the next
project. Otherwise, consider that you may be an adrenaline junkie and
love the rush associated when working on overdrive. To prevent sporadic
results and a pile of unfinished projects, get off the adrenaline train
and start creating the momentum that produces consistent, long lasting
results.
9.
Focus On the Present.
Although planning for the New Year is productive, during our quest to
achieve more we often lose sight of what is occurring today, preventing
us from enjoying the hidden gifts or treasures that are already present
in our lives. Keep focused on what is occurring now as opposed to what
happened yesterday or what will be in the future. Live for today while
planning for tomorrow.
10. Fear-less.
Every year we want more but fear prevents us from taking risks, so we
continually produce similar results. Since fear is the negative
assumption of the outcome, shift your focus towards the positive outcome
or what you DO want to manifest, instead of what you are looking to
avoid. |
