November’s Resolution 1 November 04

Don’t you find that, words of wisdom and inspiration can leap out at you from the most obscure of places? This week it was from the label of my Innocent Smoothie (I suppose at those prices you expect a life changing experience). Essentially, the thought from this much lauded, brand icon was, we should get out and enjoy the wonders of the winter season, as we don’t have an endless supply of them.

I found this idea particularly poignant, as I had been observing how so many of us firefight our way through November, en route to the Festive season, rather than maximising what can be achieved during this time. With further reflection, I realised that November is the perfect time to think about how you have lived during the past year and a time to create a vision for the year ahead.

Yes, I know it seems way too early to mention New Year’s resolutions. But I believe that now is the ideal time to start giving some serious thought to what you are going to announce as your resolutions when your are asked at that New Year’s dinner or party, on Hogmany.

To put you in a positive frame going forward, start with thinking (and writing down) all your achievements of 2004. Next create a ‘gratitude list’ of all the things you are grateful for in your life today e.g. family and friends. This exercise will help to ensure that you start with a motivated and energised state of mind.

The Wheel of Life, is another popular coaching exercise and a great way to explore areas of your life that may require refocusing or changing. It can also help to identify if there are any major, imbalances in the way that you have been spending your time.

Start by drawing a circle and create a pie chart with 8 segments. Label each segment with the following headings: 1. Friends and Family 2. Significant other/romance 3. Personal Growth 4. Fun and Recreation 5. Physical Environment 6. Career 7. Money and 8. Health. Go round each segment, in turn, and rate your personal ‘satisfaction’ in that area of your life between 0 and 10 (10 being high satisfaction). Where your number is low, then consider what goals, if any, you would like to set yourself for 2005, to increase your feelings of satisfaction in that aspect of your life.

Once you have done this, I would suggest that you give yourself some time to develop your thinking. Revisit your wheel of life, your goals and plans for achieving them. Keeping a journal is a great way of getting in touch with your inner most thoughts and ideas. Jot down lots of different ideas, for meeting your goals. Be creative and don’t always opt for the first and most obvious solution. After all, the investment and quality of thinking that you put in now may well form the way you spend much of your time in 2005.

So when the round of Christmas lunches and parties get going, in December, you will be happy in the knowledge that you have already done your planning for the New Year. How smooth is that?