How do you plan to lighten your soul in the new year? Do you look forward to a new year with anticipation and hope? Or is it more like dread? My clients often tell me that even if they’re excited about the challenges on the horizon in the coming year, they’re overwhelmed with what’s currently on their plate.
This kind of “accomplishments clutter” isn’t so different from the actual jumble of old stuff currently cluttering up your closet. And just like your closet, when you clean up your thoughts about all you’ve accomplished, experience gratitude for it and then let it go, your soul lightens and you immediately gain more energy for what lies ahead. When it comes to starting off the new year properly, this is the key missing element and the reason so many New Year’s resolutions come to nothing. Want to give your New Year’s hopes and dreams a little boost? Start by putting this year’s stuff to bed so you have a clean slate to start anew when the calendar flips to January.
Before you jump into planning for the upcoming year, give some thought to how the last 12 months have shaped up for you–and shaped you! Your New Year planning always goes better when you start from a clean slate, but it’s surprising how seldom we take the time to clean the slate! Yet, this is exactly the step that will lighten your soul!
Here is a very simple formula you can use to help you clean the slate for the year ahead. I started doing this about 15 years ago and now I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s a key part of my New Year’s celebrations.
FIRST: Look Back And Give Yourself Credit
Take the time to remember what went right! There’s nothing more challenging than starting from a negative all-the-stuff-that-didn’t-happen viewpoint. So start by identifying the things that went well and give yourself credit for having helped create them.
SECOND: Learn From Your Success
When things go right it’s important to try to understand why. Even when it seems like it was “just luck” there are usually patterns you can learn from. Become a student of good luck, best practices and accomplishment and you’ll find yourself achieving more in the future.
THIRD: Preserve Important Things Still To Be Done
After analyzing success, look at what’s left and pull out the things that are still important and should continue to be on your plate as you move forward. Try to choose the fewest number of things to take forward with you.
FOURTH: Lighten Your Soul and Let Go Of Stuff That No Longer Matters
This step may be the secret to cleaning your slate. Take the time to look at all the things that didn’t get accomplished, that aren’t important enough to keep on your plate moving forward and Let.Them.Go.
This process will help you anytime you need to start fresh, but it’s especially important to do at the beginning of a new year. You can do it separately for work and for life, or combine the list into the work-life blend that you live. There’s no wrong way to do it, just do it!
Are you intrigued by the idea of “clearing the decks” to help you achieve more in the upcoming year? I created a Year in Review Workbook that digs more deeply into the practice of starting the new year off with a clean slate. It’s available when your join InPower’s Coaching Community, which offers unlimited access to events, career transition guidance, leadership development lessons and online discussion boards. In the community we’ll also be exploring this theme more in the months ahead, so why don’t you join us and lighten your soul with a little boost of fresh energy!
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