Let's face it, despite your best efforts, you're still feeling like 2015 didn't turn out the way you might have planned for it to go, or did it?
I've complied a list of my own mistakes and big ah-has from my life and business lessons of 2015 and I pass them onto you, yup, you're welcome. I'll do the heavy lifting of living through it, if it means that you are able to use these tips. Here is to 2015 being a year of accessing that NEW self-awareness and using it to create MAGIC!
1. Working for the WRONG goal. Let me explain. You may have set a goal to make enough money to finally purchase the dream car you've had your eye on, that red 1963 Porsche convertible. What you may not realize is that it is not the Porsche that you're after, it is something that it offers you, a sense of accomplishment, freedom, youth, vitality and care-free living. Unaware of what motivates you, you buckle down, put in long hours and in the meantime, you risk missing out on other opportunities of experiencing exactly what you seek; freedom, care-free living, accomplishment, a sense of fun in life.
2. Too much control. You held on too tightly to ONE outcome, without being open to the opportunities in front of you. You concentrated all of your time and resources in one area, an area which was depleting you, with very little return. Time to start getting curious. Curiosity and wonder release endorphins which stimulate creativity.
3. Continued Chaos. Clutter and lack of organization. Okay, I get it, that CREATIVE burst you get can be highly beneficial and yet, it leaves you with a huge mess. You live in this world of creating A LOT (which is AWESOME), but damn, it hinders your ability to execute! Clean SHIT up! No one can think in that chaos, including you. Although evidence shows that chaos comes with creativity and genius (Einstein's desk was said to be a MESS), it also hinders productivity. It becomes a challenge to focus when you're surrounded by the paperwork covering your desk. Honor that there is a rhythm to your creativity and productivity. Create systems for yourself. There are times when you are feeling incredibly creative and resist cleaning (usually in the two weeks prior to the full moon) and there are times when you are feeling productive and motivated to have more organization (usually after the full moon). Don't take my word for it, keep a productivity, creativity log. Notice when you have bursts of creativity and notice when the moment arrises when you start to CURSE the chaos and need it to banish! Don't let the chaos stick around and hinder your bigger VISION and goals!
4. DRAMA. You heard me. The chaos in your life is not necessarily in the physical form, it is emotional and psychological. You had so much emotional chaos that it distracted you from your larger purpose and bigger goals. Time to CLEAR -- relationships, thoughts and beliefs that are leaving you distracted from YOUR bigger purpose!
5. Not Your Time. If you are anything like me, this is the LAST thing that you want to hear. Hang in there, it does not mean that you'll NEVER reach that goal, it just means that NOW is NOT the time. Why? There are a lot of contributing factors, but let's discover your WHY of this year. Reflect on your year. What did you work toward and what was your reality? Were you thrown one of life's curve balls? Did you have to tend the health issues of a loved one? Did you experience a financial or emotional setback? Time for the reflection part, what did that situation/circumstance gift you with? Greater resilience? New awareness? Honor the role it played in your life.
6. Searching for The Magic Pill. Somewhere along the way, you started to experience self doubt, leaving you to question your ability to accomplish the goals you set out for in 2014. When the doubt settled in, you abandoned your own wisdom in exchange for paying someone else for theirs. You invested in their promise, thinking that someone else's expertise would get you over your hump. This not only took you away from your intuitive wisdom, it drained your energy, resources and highjacked your focus. Although I am an advocate for hiring outside resources (as needed), I'm also acutely aware that searching outside of yourself can leave you far removed from your truest heart's desires. Stay centered and grounded in YOUR wisdom. Trust advisors who are willing to hear and honor YOUR vision!
7. Not enough CELEBRATING! You set the bar high for yourself (because you are BAD ASS enough to reach that lofty goal). With your eye on that BIG goal in the sky, you start to see the distance between where you are and where you want to be. That gap leaves you with overwhelm and creates an energy of strife! You start grasping at anything to see results, to feel a sense of accomplishment, leaving you further from the energy required for reaching your goals. Celebrate EVERY win! Set aside time on a weekly basis (or if you're bad ass enough -- DAILY) to celibate every win of 2016! Connecting with the energy of celebration gives you the momentum to KEEP taking steps toward your goals!
8. Nay Sayers. YES, a healthy dose of constructive criticism is beneficial, I'm not talking about that here. I'm addressing that group of people who don't believe in your big goals. They make comments like, "Don't get too ahead of yourself, John." They're the people you are uncomfortable celebrating with. In 2016, surround yourself with those who will challenge you, support you, celebrate the BIG wins with you! This keeps you in the energy of continuing to create the action steps required to see make your goals a living reality!
9. Over-planning . Planning out EVERY detail of what the next year will look like, is a waste of your time. There is not only no way that you can control all of those tedious details, it also distracts you from living in the moment, and trusting the gifts that are presented to you in that moment. Damnit -- if you try to plan, follow the template or formula, you miss out on the opportunity to utilize your greatest asset -- YOUR heart's intuitive guidance! BE in the moment and allow the gifts to unfold before your eyes!
10. Waiting -- You were waiting on someone else or the perfect circumstances before you made your move. The result? You got away with blaming someone else when your vision didn't take shape. I get it, it is easier to blame than to take ownership. Don't get me wrong, there are times when others let you down, I get that. And yet, this year, you allowed someone else to have more influence over your life than they should have. You allowed them to hold you back from your next level.
How does this list apply to you? How will it support you to move forward on the right foot in 2016? Let's commit to making 2016 even better, commit to evolving beyond where we were!
Cheers to you breaking free of your limitations!