Happy [Almost] 2012!
I just ran across a really cool, and timely, article from one of my mentors and I had to share it with you.
I’ll get to that in a moment, but first…
I love this time of year – that sweet spot right between Christmas and the beginning of the New Year.
It’s when most others are making their list of resolutions.
24-hour Fitness memberships skyrocket.
MLM distributorships and franchise applications hit their peak.
Rosetta Stone orders hit the roof.
Of course we know that many of these things people have “resolved” to do simply don’t make it past the first week of February.
Personally, I’ve never been a big fan of New Year resolutions, or what I call “The four-letter R-word”.
Instead I’m more in line with the 3-R’s…
REVIEW
Really look back on the last year. Go through photos, emails, calendars, etc. and reflect on what things have progressed and what hasn’t. Make sure you bring emotion into this process. Remember what could have been better, and celebrate what turned out better than you expected.
REVISE
Based on the results you just reviewed, ask yourself what needs to be adjusted. This may be your end goal, your approach, your expectations, your relationships. Maybe you need to stop one thing and do even more of another thing. Decide what specifically you must do.
REFOCUS
Knowing now what needs to take place, give yourself the “juice” to see them through by determining WHY it’s important to make them happen. How will things be better for you? Who else will these decisions affect for the better? How will it make you feel?
It’s a simple and powerful process that you can do minutes at a time for different aspects of your life.
In the past I’ve hosted New Year goal-setting teleseminars or webinars for clients to go through a similar process, and I may offer one in the next few weeks.
In addition to the 3-R’s, one of the new things I’ll be doing for myself is adding a really cool technique I just learned from my mentor John Carlton.
John describes his “new year” ritual of “The January 15th Letter”.
Here’s how it works…
Write a letter to yourself from the perspective of a year in the future.
(John writes his on January 15th, hence the name. But you can do it whenever you want.)
For example, if you’re doing this on December 31, 2011, date your letter December 31, 2012.
So the “future you” (1 year older and wiser) is writing to the “present you”.
In your letter, writing from the perspective of the “future you”, tell your younger self about all the amazing things you’ve accomplished in that previous 12-month period.
What did you accomplish?
Who did you meet?
What did you laugh about?
What did you celebrate?
Whose lives did you touch?
What are you most proud of?
Include all the stuff that’s “realistic” and remember to include those things that you’d consider “out of this world”.
Whatever you write, the key here is to write it from the point of view that THESE THINGS HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED.
You’re just writing to yourself as a way of saying, “Hey, here’s what you’ve got to look forward to.”
I’ve done similar “letters to self” in other contexts and let me tell you, it will blow your mind and open your heart to new possibilities and a deeper appreciation for yourself.
Do it now, thank me (and John) later 
Cheers to your success!
Philipp
P.S. If you’d like to read the original post from John, you can check it out HERE
P.P.S. If you would like to participate in one of my guided goal-setting sessions, let me know by COMMENTING BELOW. If there’s enough interest I’ll schedule something for sometime in January. I’m not sure if I’ll charge for it at this point, but if I do it will be nominal.
Just COMMENT BELOW with your preference of a weekend/weekday, morning/evening session. (e.g., “Phil, I’m interested and would like a weekend evening session.)
{ 0 comments }
