I love this time of year. It’s an opportunity to wipe the slate clean, reflect on what was great but also not so great over the last 12 months.
When I have mentioned that I have set some new year’s resolutions I have been met with a few looks which can only be described as, ‘that’s so passé’. So why bother?
New Year’s Resolutions / Business Objectives – Why Bother?
One client rightly said to me, “What if you are content?” Great question! I would say that I am content both in my personal and business life. When I set up Beee I was going to empire build and make shed loads of money…which also meant shed loads of work too. Don’t get me wrong, I like to earn a decent living that enables me to provide for my family and have some fun, but beyond that, I’m not so bothered.
What makes me feel focused, alive, happy and bizarrely content, is having something to look forward to; always working towards something new and different, which gives me a sense of purpose and achievement.
Last year was about stretching personal limits, for example, taking up horse riding and getting over a jump, going to Argentina on my own, but also venturing into the world of YouTube.
When I recently visited my home town, I caught up with a dear friend. They were suffering with depression. As I listened and asked the odd question, what struck my friend, was that there wasn’t enough new and different in her work-life. Contentment had become boredom, which over time had turned into depression.
Setting goals and aspirations makes me feel excited about what there is to come as opposed to: is this my lot? We are of course all different! Who says you must always rock the boat!?
A Simple Reflective Exercise to Help Identify Possible Goals and Aspirations for 2017:
As you think about the next 12 months, identify what you want to:
1. STOP doing. What didn’t work out so well for you last year? Where are you wasting your time and energy? What made you feel bad?
2. START doing: In an ideal world, what would you like to start doing or achieving? This can sometimes be the antidote to ‘STOP’.
3. CONTINUE doing: What do you need to celebrate from last year? What worked out well for you? What made you feel good?
4. If you want to really commit these ideas to your unconscious, draw a visual representation of what you want to achieve. Colourful doodles and stick people are perfect.
5. Review in January 2018 and bask in your success!
Happy New Year and good luck!
