After much reflection as 2007 came to a close, it is evident to me that last year included too much stress, over-scheduling and pushing my body too hard.  Yes me, yoga instructor, life coach, woman who leads Goddess Circles to reclaim the feminine and nourish ourselves, speaker on inspiration and claiming your life.  Too much.  That's just how it is sometimes, imperfect.  And I choose to learn from it.

I love new beginnings.  A New Year, how thrilling.  It is the perfect time to reflect, regroup and return to life in a new way.  This year I'm choosing a theme to live by.  Maybe I will use it like a mantra or plaster it on Post-it notes around my house.  For me, 2008 is "The Year of Harmony."  Translated, it is going to be a year that combines strength and peace, energy and stillness, systems and flexibility, motivation and collaboration.  Not necessarily opposites, these are elements that I don't experience together often enough, yet I know would lead to amazing things.  I'm enticed by the possibilities that can bloom from the concept of harmony.  Heck I might even start singing again!

Insight through Reflection

You might immediately have the perfect theme in mind, or you might benefit from some exploration.  When we stop to reflect on our lives and actually write down our thoughts, insights spring up.  Review this last year.  What did you love about it?  What didn't work?  And further, regarding the things that didn't work, what was your learning and what potential solutions/alternatives can you see? What would you like to have more of?  What inspires you and lights up your life?  What were the highlights of last year and of the highlights, why were they so valuable to you?

For example, a couple highlights might have been completing a major, long-term project, and the vacation you took to Mexico.  Assuming "highlights" were enjoyable and you'd like to create more similar highlights, your themes might be perseverance and anticipation.  Work towards your next big project, organize the steps, stay in action, set a goal vacation date, schedule and plan it in advance. The perseverence is working towards it and anticipation is creating things to look forward to.

Setting Up Your "Themed" Life

In hindsight, I noticed that my schedule often "happened," leaving me feeling constantly pressured.  Creating programs on deadlines, trying to get my newsletter written, last minute planning for monthly events, and yes, some procrastination, all translated into pressure and stress.  Unnecessarily.

This year I am streamlining my life.  As the adventurer, independent thinker and entrepreneur I've been resistant to schedules and systems.  For years.  Initially it looked like freedom but the irregularity of it was the opposite, making me a slave to getting things done with no efficiency systems or planned time off.  My response?  This year regular events are scheduled for the year, I'm adding blocks of time to my calendar for admin, bookkeeping and time off!  My vacation dates are getting reserved in advance (even if I don't know where I'm going!) and I'm creating order in my finances by adding due dates to my Outlook calendar. (Auto-pay is an even better idea!)

Welcome harmony.

Realistically I know that this is a transitional process, gradual even.  However, if I choose to focus over and over on the theme harmony, adjust my schedule in advance to set myself up for greater success, make decisions with harmony in mind, I am more likely to experience it than if I simply talk about it. 

Choosing, choosing and re-choosing

We always return to the power of choice.  Every moment is new.  Every moment allows you to choose again.  Establishing new habits and practices is not a perfect, seamless process but an ever-evolving one.  I might have a week that I slide back into the insanity of my old way.  Fine.  Big deal.  Choose again.  The next morning I will rise with harmony on my mind and I will set up a day that creates space for it.  And with every day that I choose harmony, that is one more day out of 365 spent in harmony.

In a nutshell:

Step one: reflect.

Step two: choose a theme.

Step three: set it up in your life

Step four: take action. 

Step five: choose it again. Return to step three as often as needed.

Wishing you a most delight-filled, prosperous and healthy New Year.

And to those who of you who haven't send Holiday cards and are quickly seeing the window for New Year's cards passing by, you're not alone.  Let's let ourselves off the hook.

Joy,

Robin