New Year's Day is racing ever closer with its summons to mend our ways, focus on our dreams, and be a kinder person -- or whatever may be on your resolutions list. I know I can help you make the most of 2016, if you're interested. Read on to take a quick quiz to find out if you are.
Every year I provide a series about having the coming year be your best yet. But I have never been completely honest with you about what's in my heart. What I haven't said is that I would love you to take this opportunity seriously because it will make a difference in the quality of your life and the results you achieve. I promise.
How can I make such a bold statement? Because over a million people have done so over the past 35 years. But more importantly I believe you recognize the truth of the following:
What lies behind you and what lies in front of you,
pales in comparison to what lies inside of you. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you're not familiar with Best Year Yet, it's a two- to three-hour process in which you ask yourself 10 questions that guide you to review the past year, discover lessons, shift limiting beliefs, and set your top priorities for the coming year. These are questions to which only you have the answers -- answers which come from the deep well of wisdom that "lies inside of you".
This exercise, although not always easy, becomes more of a pleasant and uplifting exercise than a painful process of recrimination. To give you a sense of the experience, have a peek at the first three questions:
- What did I accomplish?
- What were my biggest disappointments?
- What did I learn?
Goal setting doesn't begin until the 8th question because too often people set goals without first preparing the internal environment for those goals to succeed. Your answers to the first 7 questions guide you to prepare this environment. By the time you've answered the last one, you'll have a one-page plan for 2016.
So are you ready for your best year yet? To find out here are some statements to consider. Being as honest as you can (no one's looking), mentally circle either T or F, depending on whether each statement is true or false for you.
T F I've had success with setting and achieving goals in the past.
T F I need to find a way to do more of what matters and less of what doesn't.
T F I've lost confidence in myself lately, but I'm not ready to give up.
T F I know that if I tackled the issues that trouble me most, I'd be much happier.
T F It's easier for me to focus on my failures than my successes, and I see how this has caused me to stop believing in myself as much as I once did.
T F I have strong values and beliefs, but the way I'm living now doesn't reflect these as much as I'd like.
T F Although I'm so busy, making this plan is important to me. I'll find the time.
T F I believe it's possible that 2016 could be my best year yet.
Not hard to guess that if the majority of your choices are T's, you're ready for your best year yet. My upcoming articles provide lots more information about making a plan, and I'll be sharing helpful stories about others who have done the same.
But if you want to make your plan now, here are a couple of options:
•Get Your Best Year Yet! -- there's a free workbook in the back of the book.
•Join the Best Year Yet global community -- subscribe here.
I'd be happy to answer your questions or hear your thoughts about next year. Either scroll down to leave a comment, or write to me directly at jinny@bestyearyet.com.
For more by Jinny Ditzler, click here
For more on GPS for the Soul, click here.
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