For me the New Year started with a bang and I realized that there is a lot to do in 2010! The New Year brings resolutions of change, but more importantly a fresh start.
Maybe you made your own resolutions for a better life, better you, or something simpler. Unfortunately, this optimism often ends in failure, but it doesn’t have to…borrowing a term from Mike Mahler, we can become part of the 5% club.
“Of course, there will be a few people who finish what they start and make 2010 their best year ever. Lets call these people the 5% club. The 5% club realize it takes more than passion to create success in any endeavor. Without the right plan–and a great dose of tenacity–you can forget about accomplishing anything life-changing.” (you can find his article here on being successful).
I am going to share some ideas on how to make those New Year’s resolutions serve a deeper purpose. It is time to reinvent ourselves and shake off the previous year’s failures. This gift is about making anything possible and changing how we live!
These five tips will help you to have a fresh start this New Year, not just having your resolutinos stick. However, I don’t want those looking for help sticking to their resolutions to go away empty handed. Remember that reinventing yourself is more than just lists, but with saying that here is a link to a great list from Leo Babauta.
Here is five ways to start that change…
1. Forget about it.
We gather emotional baggage from previous failures, commitments, and habits. We are unwilling to change careers because we have been doing it for too long. Life is busy and leaves no time for our loved ones or for getting healthy. We are familiar with the current situation and comfortable with the status quo. It is time for Tabula Rasa, (Latin for blank slate).
The line between successful people and unsuccessful people is that successful people are willing to do what needs to be done regardless of their feelings about it. The passion may be lacking, but the work gets done. The work that needs to be done now is to shed the old baggage. It often times is hard to clear the slate, I know.
Let go of the attachments to what you’ve been doing for the past year, or years. Let go of the failures. Let go of fears you’ve built up. Let go of reluctance. Let go of your ideas about what your life has to be like, because that’s the way it’s gone so far. Let go of long-held beliefs and habits.
2010 brings a new beginning so forget about last year.
2. Find what is important TODAY!
Goals are important for the year, but for today forget about them. Rather choose what you want to do today.
What matters most to you, to your life? What are you most passionate about, right now? What excites and invigorates you? What would give you the most fulfillment? Find that answer and focus on it today. The answer may take a day, a week, a month, or a year to complete. The important thing is to completely dedicate yourself to doing it today.
3. Remove distractions so you can focus.
Take time each morning to focus on the answer from #2 above. We need to remove the distractions whether it is TV, email, Facebook, chores, work, errands, etc…This is the time to clear the slate and start each day with a clarity of today’s goal. There will be time later to deal with life’s clutter. In fact, if you can, shut off the Internet for awhile. You can come back to it after your break.
4. Happiness starts today.
Happiness is part of the journey not just the destination. Rather than thinking happiness comes from finishing a goal find the happiness now. When you push happiness back until later, it’ll never come. Instead learn to be happy now, it’ll always be here.
This New Year is about doing what matters most to you. If it is worthy of your focus, time, and heart then it will bring you happiness. You’re doing what you love. And that is truly a gift.
5. Begin anew each day.
Borrowing a concept from Buddhism, each day is a chance for rebirth. Take that idea and put it to practice by doing what matters most to you each day. Start fresh each day. That doesn’t mean that the goal changes from the previous day, but what matters is to be happy right now.
Each day gives a new start not only on New Year’s Day. That new start is the gift I have to share with you. Start the New Year fresh…
Tabula Rasa!!
If you couldn’t guess from the title…this is my 100th blog post! So I thought I would share a little bit about myself and what I am trying to accomplish with this blog. The path of life for me has taken many twists and turns. Sometimes it seems like I am on the scenic path, but I just have to remember to keep working towards a long term vision. During this journey, I have needed to revise my current path. That is not to say that I am wandering aimlessly rather that writing in pencil allows me to make minor adjustments and rework the path to my goals. My long-term goals are my passions and this blog is where I can give them voice. This blog also allows me to share what I am learning on the way. 
