New year, new beginnings
Oh that sweet smell of new beginnings is in the air. Can you smell it? As I sip my first weekday morning coffee of the new year I’m filled with equal parts excitement and anxiousness. Excitement for what’s ahead and a hint of nerves of what’s to come, knowing that there’s beautiful things ahead for all of us. So many surprises, memories and beautiful encounters waiting to be discovered.
With so much potential it’s no wonder that resolutions are at the forefront of everyone’s mind and the top of the news stories this Monday morning. Do we or don’t we? Loose weight, get fit, do something daring, run a marathon, travel more, spend more time with family, lay off the caffeine (that’s not likely) and be less stressed are just a few of the commonly broken New Years resolutions. Our intentions are good and our expectation high, but then life happens and before you know it you’re three months in with no headway.
That’s when two years ago we met a friend who provided us with a different plan of attack. Instead of being overly generic of what you wanted to get our of a new year, it’s a way to be more intentional and specific.
So if you’re looking for a way to see your dreams and goals accomplished this year, I’m here to share this avant-garde guide with you…
Head somewhere cosy, perhaps your favourite shop, where there are minimal distractions. If you have a family bring them with you and get everyone involved. Just you and your spouse? That’s great too, a great tradition to start with just the two of you. Make sure to bring your calendar, pens, laptop if you need to do some research and an expectant heart.
Be specific in the certain areas of your life that you want to improve and see dreams come to pass. Whether it be personal, spiritual, family, business, friends, holidays or fitness. Determine what areas are important priorities for you before you begin to map out your vision.
Now that you have narrowed down the categories of importance begin to ask yourself the following questions for each of them. These questions are designed to help with awareness of where you are now and define where you really want to go. It allows you to cultivate a deeper meaning of what you want your life and year to be about.
1) What do you really want (vision)?
2) What is important about it (values)?
3) How will I get it (method)?
4) What is preventing me from having it (obstacles)?
5) How will I know I am successful (measurements)?
Once you narrow down specific goals + dreams in the specific areas of your life it’s time to write them down and pin them somewhere that you’re going to see them. It’s too easy to soon forget how excited you were about seeing your vision and goals come to pass, but if you place these goals somewhere prominent you’ll spur that excitement anew each time you read them.
Every year Stephen and I prayerfully choose a word to declare over our year ahead. Last year our word was “challenge”. We knew that 2015 was going to be filled with its fair-share of steep hills to climb so we were fully prepared to tackle what was ahead knowing that whatever we encountered along the way would teach us, shape us and prepare us for something far greater. It was a word that embodied growing pains but also a sense of determination and value.
This year we’re declaring “breakthrough”. Not for just us but for each of you. Believing that 2016 is going to be our year, your year. That it will be overflowing with joy, filled with adventure and packed with accomplished dreams and new perspective.
Who’s ready for a new year and new beginnings!?