For most people, New Year’s resolutions just don’t work. Instead, create a vision for 2019 that excites and inspires you. That vision, combined with your dedication to making it a reality, can change your life.
Before we start our next journey around the sun, take time to reflect on what has gone well and how you’ve grown through your successes and your failures in 2018. Then, from this place of clarity about where you’ve been, set your sights on a vision of what 2019 can be.
This process gives you access to something far more powerful than a typical New Year’s resolution. When you stand firmly in your personal vision of what you want your life to be, great possibilities open up.
Start with these questions. Sit with them for a bit before you record your answers. As your responses come up, ask yourself, “And what else?”
What accomplishments am I most proud of from the past year, from both my personal and my professional life?
What relationships did I forge or improve during 2018?
What challenges did I face? Whether I triumphed or not, what did I learn from those experiences?
What is my clear and detailed vision of how to live my best life in 2019?
What do I want for my career, my home, my relationships, my health? (You can use the Wheel of Life to help get your creative juices flowing)
What would make 2019 a slam-dunk success?
What’s possible for me and those around me if I make this my reality?
Why is a New Year’s vision more effective than a New Year’s resolution? Resolutions tend to be one-dimensional and are usually focused on behaviors. Go to the gym. Save more money. Eat better. Behaviors are not very inspiring, and when you fail to keep the specific resolution, discouragement, guilt and shame set in.
Your vision, on the other hand, is a rich tapestry of how you want your life to be, how you want to be. Your vision is like a beacon that guides you forward toward the destination of your best life. Your vision will inspire you to find a way.
For best results, write down or type your answers and keep them handy. It’s incredibly powerful to check in with your vision throughout the year. Next, choose a few keywords from your vision, write them down and post them where you’ll see them every day, on your bathroom mirror, your computer monitor or your car dashboard.
Enjoy this process. Have fun with it. Use your imagination. Then enjoy living your fullest expression of your vision in 2019.