Friday, January 6, 2012

No New Year's resolutions! Only achievements!

Dear All,

I hope you enjoyed wonderful Holidays and started off the New Year on the right foot. A big part of the holidays is reminiscing about what we did in the past year, what we want to do better, improve or do differently and making New Year’s resolutions. Personally, I don’t like resolutions because they have a negative connotation often focusing on deprivation rather than achievements. I think it is much nicer to think of all the good things we did and just look forward to doing more. I like what Alicia Keys wrote on her facebook wall: To me, the Best part of the New Year is making the choice to keep the good things and let go of the rest!” Now that’s what I’m talking about. And to help you in that direction I am posting below a tip sheet from Rita Emmett, a woman whose book The Procrastinator's Handbook (see my Recommended Readings) truly changed my life. I hope you will enjoy it:

Happy New Year
At this time of year, we tend to think of new year's resolutions, new starts, and sometimes regrets. The regrets are often about those things we never got around to doing.

Sometimes we set impossibly high goals and sometimes year after year we make the same resolutions that we know we won't keep, then we start to think of ourselves as failures, losers or worthless worms. That frame of mind doesn't lead to ANTICRASTINATION; it more likely causes us to NOT try new things or to simply give up trying anything.

Let's kick off 2012 on a more positive, productive note. Instead of setting goals, look at the past year and focus on all the good things you did that you can be proud of. Write them down. None of this has to be huge. Just think of the things that make your life good, the way you want to be living it. For example:

• Took part in a new project at work
• Had fun building a snowman for the first time in ages
• Read
The Procrastinator's Handbook
• Donated blood
• Had some good times with friends and family
• Volunteered for a community fund-raiser
• Went dancing
• Began a recycling habit
• Paid off a debt or invested some money
• Learned something new on the computer
• Re-connected with an old friend
• Spent time on a hobby
• Went to church
• Exercised
• Took a wonderful drive with the family to enjoy the fall colors
• Learned to relax
• Counted your blessings
• Read
The Clutter-Busting Handbook, cleaned out a closet & donated lots of clothes to a worthy cause

These are just a few random examples with hopes this list might trigger some ideas for you. Take your time, write down everything you can think of that you are happy to have done, leave the paper out for several days, post it on a wall or a mirror and enjoy adding to it. As you list your positive achievements of 2011, let yourself wallow in feeling good about yourself, your life, and your accomplishments.

Doesn't that sound like more fun than making up a ton of resolutions? Don't forget that old saying: "Success breeds success". As you wallow in feeling good about your achievements, you just might find the energy and desire to move forward on something you've been putting off for a while (or a lifetime).

If that should happen, here's a question you can also write out and stick up on a wall or mirror (It's one of my favorite questions to ask at the beginning of a new year).

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

May 2012 be the very best year of your life.
Happy New Year.
Rita

Up next I will tell you how I went about this and hope you will share with me too!

Have a great week-end!
Kim
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Thank you for your comment! Let the Chi flow! Best life to you, Kim