A Look Back, and a Leap Forward

At this writing, we are already four days into the New Year of 2010. I want to extend my sincerest wishes to all of you for a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year! For some it is the last year in the decade, while others consider it the beginning of the next. I’m not here to debate your position on that and no matter which side of the argument you are on, the one thing that remains constant is that we have an opportunity to look back at all this past year has brought – triumphs and challenges, joys and sorrows, optimism and fear – and hopefully gain a new perspective on our lives.

To say that 2009 was a challenging year for many of us would certainly be an understatement. We were assaulted at every turn with the news of yet another financial meltdown, another business or bank collapse, bailouts and crises, another round of jobs being cut, and let’s not forget the foreclosures. In a nutshell, it’s probably a year that many of us would choose to forget if we could. But if that is all we choose to see, then we are failing to also see that there were many positive and optimistic things that happened this past year. Look at your own life, and surely you can see that not all was adrift in pessimism and pain. What’s really true?

From a very personal perspective, as many of you know, in November of 2008, I was let go from a corporate job I had held for more than 25 years. To say that my sense of security was shaken, and that my belief in the notion of hard work and loyalty paying off was challenged, is certainly true. And I was presented with an opportunity all of you also have – the undeniable truth that I get to decide what’s next for me. But it all started with a goal I had set at the beginning of 2008 to follow my heart and my passion and to stop living a life that is less than I deserve.

In reflecting back on this last year, I see so many positive and confirming signs that my life is exactly on the track it is supposed to be on. I completed my formal in-person coach training in late 2008, right after being laid off, then in 2009 went through a rigorous certification and testing process and received my professional coaching credentials from both The Coaches Training Institute and the International Coach Federation – accomplishments that I am incredibly proud of. I certainly could never have accomplished that if I was mired in the pessimism and fear that many embraced. I chose a different path – and I have benefitted greatly from it. I am living my dream for my own life – helping others to connect with their higher selves and to take their lives from ordinary to extraordinary. I have never been more fully alive!

Now, it’s your turn. Take some time to reconnect with all that happened in 2009. Look at your achievements, challenges, frustrations, inspirations, goals and dreams, and ask yourself what’s really true. I’m willing to bet you can’t say that the entire year was utterly miserable for you. Our challenge is to stay connected to those things that matter most to us, and to re-engage consciously with all that we have to be grateful for. When we do this, it makes it possible for us to recall the good things and to realistically assess our year. It doesn’t mean that we forget or attempt to nullify any negative experiences – there is learning in those, too. What it does mean, however, is that we can regain our sense of self and realize that every experience offers us the opportunity to learn and grow and move closer to becoming the person we most want to be. It’s also an important distinction that we realize while we can learn much from the past, it’s important that we not live there.

So now, let’s take a leap forward. What does 2010 look like from this new perspective? What are the things you wanted to do in 2009 that you might have left on the table? What new and exciting journeys are you ready to take in the coming year? Take some time to connect to your bigger vision for your life, and really take note of those things that are most meaningful to you. That is where your dreams live.

I’m not talking about just setting some resolutions for the coming year. We’ve all been down that road. Recent studies have shown that more than 75% of new years resolutions fail to come to fruition. This is about being and living to your full potential. It’s way bigger than just setting some nebulous goals that you may or may not be fully engaged with. It’s about connecting with your magnificent vision for your life. Where is the “juice” in your life? What moves you? What makes you feel passionate when you think about it? That’s the place to plan from.

In taking this step and planning your journey, it’s vitally important to connect to those things that will enhance your life and bring you closer to your vision. In other words, you have to know what you want. It must be meaningful to you, and not based on what you think you “should” or “need” to do – and certainly not based on what others tell you that you should do. Don’t listen to your inner critic or saboteur (recall the June 2009 newsletter). Listen to your heart. The goals must be resonant and authentic to you.

Ask yourself this question – What will it give me to have/achieve this thing in my life? What’s the payoff for getting this? If you have a strong enough reason to pursue your goals, you are more likely to sustain your efforts even during challenges or seeming defeats. The promise of how your life will be enriched by accomplishing your goal provides the fuel to keep your passion fired up. It will help you stay strong and committed to the task at hand. There is an old quote that says, “If you have a strong enough why, then you can endure almost any how.”

It’s also important to set up accountability measures for yourself. Who are the people or resources that you can utilize to keep you focused and on track? There are few who have the drive and ability to hold themselves accountable without some outside assistance. Many times we fail to hold ourselves accountable or to set up these checkpoints, and we fail to realize our goals. Identify those resources in your life, and use them to help build momentum. Be careful to select those people who have a stake in your success, those people who are as interested in seeing you live to your full potential as you are. They are the ones who will encourage you when you’re struggling, push you when you need it, and will cheer you on consistently as you make progress toward fulfilling your goals.

Celebrate! How many times in your life have you failed to celebrate when you achieve a major goal or milestone? Without the celebration of our accomplishments, they become just another item to check off a list. Is that how you see your goals? Or are they events to honor and commemorate as important steps on your life journey? No amount of outside acknowledgment can replace that internal knowing that you are moving closer to your magnificent self, and becoming the fully realized person that most inspires you! So go ahead and pat yourself on the back and celebrate your victories! You’ll find that it strengthens your resolve to continue.

These are just a few of the ways you can help yourself to develop, plan, and implement goals that will truly resonate in your life. These are the goals that will spur your dreams, ignite your passion, and take you on a journey that leads to greater fulfillment in your life. After all, you deserve it!