New Year Intentions 2009

Has the New Year slipped by without you setting any resolutions? Or did you make a resolution that has already slipped?

No need to panic or feel a failure. Traditionally New Year’s resolutions start on the 1st January. However, they are supposed to be based on reflection of the previous year so there's still time.

One thing I have learnt in recent years is to take time to reflect on the previous year and then set some intentions for the forthcoming one. And to be honest the Christmas period is hectic, with little time available to look back. So relax, because now you can take the time to look back and review the whole of 2008. Try the following More…

Harvesting 2008, seeding 2009
The New Year signals the passage of time creating a pause point when you can look back and reflect on where you've been, what you've done (or not) and what you've achieved in the previous year.

From there many of us look ahead and set New Year’s resolutions. However research shows that 50 percent of resolutions are dropped by June, and most of those failures happen in the first few weeks. Barely more than 10 percent of resolutions are kept. But don't panic or feel a failure; try the following approach. More…


Harvest 2008.
Go through your 2008 diary as a memory jogger. Look back at what you achieved. What are the gems you want to cherish and the successes you want to celebrate?

For a holistic review reflect on your:

• friends and family relationships
  
• fun, hobbies and recreation
  
• health and well being
  
• spiritual life
  
• environment – your physical surroundings
  
• financial and money aspects
  
• job and career
  
• significant love interest/life partner/ spouse
  
• personal/professional development

For each aspect mull over the following questions:

• What were the highlights in 2008?
  
• What are you most proud of?
  
• What was your biggest challenge?
  
• What were the surprises?
  
• What were the disappointments?
  
• What changed during 2008?
  
• What did you intend to do, but didn’t?
  
• What was exciting?
  
• What were the low points?
  
• What were the fruits of your low point?
  
• What do you want to let go of?
  
• What’s been left undone or incomplete?
  
• What do you want to capture?

Seeding 2009 - set intentions rather than resolutions.
A lecturer introduced me to this some years back and it really works. Think about some qualities you want to inhabit or expand in the coming year.

Choose three or four words for example “trusting; discipline; compassion; friendship”. Write down what these qualities mean to you and how they might manifest in actions, behaviours and outcomes. Once you are sure these are the ones you want for 2009 set the intent that you will hold them as you intentions for the year. In your new diary write a note to look at your words in four or five months’ time to reconnect and gain a sense of what is new or has changed for you.

I remember the year that I chose “voluptuous” as one of mine I was surprised at how often people commented on how voluptuous I was looking. The year I chose leadership I stepped into new roles that called me forth to take a leadership position. When I chose to focus on friendship that year I deepened my experience of friendship and learnt how to be a friend in ways I never imagined.

Another approach is choose a theme for the year. Someone I know chose 2008 as his "Year of Living Dangerously". Living Dangerously meant choosing to do the things that held the most fear for him. Whichever approach you take have fun with it and be willing to be surprised.

One final piece you might find useful. Research shows that for men having rewards and an action plan best supports their efforts. For women sharing resolutions with friends and family and displaying them gets best results. Here's wishing you success for 2009.