A brief note: You live and you learn. With reflection and introspection, you can make adjustments and pivots to enhance your life as you purposefully step forward into it. In this very spirit of reviewing, learning and redesigning, I am sharing the year-in-review exercise I sent out last year, but I’ve made changes to enhance it (I like to practice what I preach!). I hope you’ll enjoy the process of body-mind goal-setting while you breathe your way into your best year yet!
Reflecting Back…
Looking Ahead…
Living in the Present…
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As 2015 comes to a close, you are given a great opportunity to reflect, rewind, recall, revisit, relive, and then ultimately reinvent. This process can be exciting, sad, joyful, frustrating, scary and more. As a human being, you often experience many conflicting feelings all at once, which can be confusing and scary. However, having a mix of emotions is a huge part of what makes you uniquely human. Let’s use those feelings, your incredible human body, and your stunning analytical brain to design a purposeful, meaningful and joyful year ahead.
In order to grow and evolve,we must learn to compassionately connect to who we have been, to be present who we are right now, and to consciously create who we are becoming.
Here is a simple exercise to support you with connecting with your past, creating for your future, and setting a present moment intention for the year ahead.
1) Reflecting Back: Take a comfortable seat with your eyes closed. Envision New Year’s Day 2015 (last year). Where were you? What were you doing? What was your life like? Bring that day to life in as much detail as possible. Then, ask yourself “What are the most significant experiences (and people) that stand out since that day?” Notice what and who shows up – it might not be what or who you expect. See if you can let it flow, without changing what you see, blocking what you experience or judging yourself. There may be a mix of both “happy” memories/events and not-so-happy ones. It’s all ok. Notice what feelings arise as you scan your 2015. Open your eyes and jot down a few notes about what arose for you.
2) Looking Ahead: Once again, take a comfortable seat with your eyes closed. Envision New Year’s Day 2017 (almost exactly one year from today!). Imagine that everything you wanted to happen in this coming year, happened. Imagine this as if it is today. What have accomplished? What has been your biggest learning? Your proudest moment? What does it feel like to be you at the end of 2016? What can say about who you have become? Sit for as long as you need to allow this experience to come into full light, connecting to all senses.
Once you are in full clarity with your 2017 self, ask yourself: “Who am I?” Answer yourself with “I am ______________(fill in the blank)” Trust the first answer that arises.
3) Present Moment Intention: Say your “I am” statement out loud a few times and notice what it feels like in your body. You have now created your intention for 2016, from the depths of your own inner wisdom. It may not feel true…yet! That’s ok. Breathe deeply into your intention and imagine it filling up your whole being, as if it is true right now.
4) Implement and Integrate: Write your “I am” intention on a few sticky notes and post them throughout your living space, your car and/or your office. Read it out loud or mentally whenever your eyes pass over the notes. During the year, when you feel stressed, overwhelmed or lost, try closing your eyes, sitting tall, taking a deep breath and restating your “I am” intention to yourself. With this clarity, purpose and integration of the body, the future “you” merges with the present “you” to create your best self for 2016…making it your best year yet!
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Did you try this exercise, but you have questions? Or you’re super excited about the intention that emerged for your year? Please reach out and let me know…I love love love hearing from you!
