As we step through the doorway from one year to the next, it’s natural to want to look back and ahead to the future. But this year, instead of just reflecting on the past year or making New Year’s resolutions, I invite you to take some time to examine where you are right now in your life.Who are you? What do you believe? What do you really need?
When we discover who we really are, we stop living on auto-pilot and start to live with intention, focus and purpose. Our choices become clearer. We begin to make active choices in our life, instead of making excuses or passively living with the status quo.
Here are a few questions to get you started. Have a journal or some way to record your thoughts. (Writing by hand keeps you in the moment and in touch with your heart.)
♥ What is yearning to be expressed?
♥ What needs healing?
♥ What unique gifts, talents and skills do you bring to the world? How are you using them (or not)?
♥ Who do you need to forgive? How about yourself?
♥ What beliefs are holding you back or getting in your way?
♥ What can you let go of in your life?
♥ What really makes you happy?
Don’t forget to consider the vital information that your other “parts” are giving you. When you use only your head, your experience of yourself and the world is more limited.
♥ What is your body telling you? When someone yells at you, does your stomach tie up in knots? Do your shoulders stiffen when you’ve been too focused on fulfilling others’ needs and ignoring your own? Notice the messages your body is giving you.
♥ Check in with your heart.The heart is the home of what is most alive in us. What does your heart have to say about your job? About how you spend your days? Does it need more play time? What, according to your heart, really matters?
♥ Listen to your intuition, your “gut.” Your intuition speaks volumes, but often gets ignored. What is this voice saying now?
Remember to notice what you already have that is working. Acknowledge and give thanks for the gifts and the beauty and the miracles that are in your life right now. Write them down.
Tell the truth. Now is the time to start being honest about who you really are and what you really want. Encouraging those unlived parts of ourselves to emerge can provide an exhilarating sense of discovery and optimism for the New Year and beyond.
Great post, Linda! And fabulous introspective questions to go through. Think I’ll take some time to do that over my vacation weekend that starts tomorrow.
Would love to share this with my blog readers, as well.
Thanks for sharing Lisa. This is a great example in practicing life balance. Gift yourself with a rejuvenating vacation weekend in the middle of December, the busiest time of year for most women. Enjoy!
Brilliant, Linda. I woke up early this morning thinking that I just needed some time to think. I THINK I will get off the computer and work on this exercise!