It is no secret, I love this time of the year, as I get to reflect on the past year and then decide on my vision and theme for the coming year. This has been my ritual between Christmas and New Year and has been for many years. As I begin to reflect on this year (which has been one of the most challenging of my life), I wanted to share with you some words and possibly inspire you for the New Year.
Don’t Quit –
When I was growing up, I had this poem with me. Throughout this year, I was reminded of it and now have printed it out and put in it my folder of inspiration.
“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must, but don’t you quit.Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow–
You may succeed with another blow.Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.Success is failure turned inside out–
The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit–
It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.”– Author Unknown
Personally, I believe within every human being there is a purpose. A purpose that only you can do – no-one else. It it YOUR purpose. When you are living your purpose, there is no competition. However, sometimes we go off our path as we trust other people, more than we trust ourselves, we don’t know who we are or what truly lights us up. Yes, I know this space well and it took me a while to start to re-align to my heart and purpose. And it comes down to choice, which Benjamin Zander, so eloquently discuss in the following TED Talk.
“Change the story and you change perception; change perception and you change the world.” ~ Jean Houston
The Art of Possibility – Benjamin Zander
When I read the book, the Art of Possibility Zander discusses in the face of difficulty we can despair, get angry or choose possibility. The following TED Talk shares more –
What is a Vision?
A vision is your vision of the future – what you want to create and achieve in the future. It is your inspiration and guides your planning, As Stephen Covey writes in 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – “Begin with the End in Mind” and Timothy Gallwey in the Inner Game of Work –
“If you have a clear vision of where you want to go, you are not as easily distracted by the many possibilities and agendas that otherwise divert you.”
The timeframe for a vision is up to you.
Why Have a Vision?
Having a vision helps you to –
- stay focused,
- make conscious choices – especially about your priorities,
- eliminate or at least minimise distractions (or bright shiny objects 🙂 ),
What is Your Vision for the New Year?
As we move towards the end of the year, what is your vision for your new year? Remember –
“Champions aren’t made in the gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision.” ~ Muhammad Ali.
Over to You…
I hope this post has give you some inspiration for identifying your vision for the New Year. Once you know your vision, it will help you prioritise your quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily actions and behaviours. Any questions, please write them below!
If you are ready to reclaim your courage and take the next step towards freedom and opening your heart, why not join our Toolkit?
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