“A dream written down with a date becomes a goal. A goal broken down into steps becomes a plan. A plan backed by action makes your dreams come true.”

Greg Reid

Good morning & Happy New Year

I trust everyone enjoyed the holiday season and are preparing for the exciting year in front of us!

The start of a new year, always bringing with it a special feeling of motivation and desire to bring forth our best selves. This year, rather than rushing into new resolutions and signing up for self-help memberships and subscriptions, I suggest you channel that new energy into the entire year. Make the time to reflect on the year past and write down your goals for the year ahead. Now, this year, in addition to this typical start of the year goal setting exercise…….this year, take time to notice which of your values are inherent in your goals. Step back and notice the overarching themes in your goals……this is your Vision.

Vision is the ability to bring the future into the mind’s eye, and see it clearly. Our Vision enables us to identify our values and what we are striving for, working towards – our future self. Our Vision is powerful because it turns out intentions into actions. Our Vision is necessary because it is our compass, guiding us when life gets difficult or we are facing change. Behind any one of our wants is a value, an image of our future self in our mind’s eyes. When we can clearly understand our values and our Vision, we can clearly see the future and set goals that are in line with our values. Your Vision is your compass

If you are working on something that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The Vision pulls you.

Steve Jobs

Over the holidays, I was reading an article by executive coach Lolly Daskal,. She writes “Sometimes you have to look back to move forward. The best leaders are always taking stock of their lives, asking and reflecting. The best way to make improvements is to decide three things: what came before, what comes next, and how to get it”

This is relevant advice for us all, particularly at this time of year. In order for you to implement your Vision, to move forward, you have to assess what you have learned about yourself up to this point.

As we head into 2023, here are 7 questions to ask yourself as you prepare a strategy for moving forward towards your Vision.

What defined you most this past year?

Make a list of your defining moments in the past year and how they portray who you are. What impact did they have? How have they changed you? Reflect on those times and what they meant to you.

What books did I read and what have they taught me?

We become the books we read; books give wisdom to our soul and wings to our mind. As Dr. Seuss said so eloquently, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” Books teach us about ourselves; they clarify ideas for us and inspire us to grow and expand. Make a list of the books you read last year and what has stayed with you from that reading.

How did I treat myself when it came to my mental health, physical health spiritual healthy, emotional well-being?

What have you done to care for yourself this year? How can you make yourself more important in your priorities? A tired malnourished mind is over stressed and rarely productive. What will you do to nourish all parts of yourself? Make a list of how you will honor yourself.

What can I improve on?

Even one small intention can make a big improvement. Make a list of all the thing you want to improve on. Look to see where you can do better next time, where can you tweak things so you get different results. The way to make major impact is to get serious about improving yourself.

What do I need to stop?

What isn’t working for you? Maybe you need to stop caring so much what other people think. Maybe you need to stop overthinking or worrying about everything. Maybe you need to stop delaying the risk and go for it. Maybe you need to stop procrastinating. Maybe you need to stop living someone else’s life and start becoming the person you are meant to be. Look at what you need to stop and take action to eliminate it.

What can I be grateful for?

List all the things that you are grateful for: your health, your family, things that worked out, ways you could be of service? Be grateful for the times you were able to make a difference. Having an attitude of gratitude gives you more to be appreciative of.

What do I need to start?

In order to achieve your Vision, you must follow your purpose and make the time to accomplish the things you are meant to do. If you did not do them this past year, how can you get started? Make a list of all the things you want to accomplish and what you need to begin making it happen… whether it’s writing a book, mending a relationship, launching a business. Think of all of the things you need to start and make the plan.

A reflection like this is worth making time for, a year-end review helps you prepare a new path for your future. It is the things we learn about ourselves that help us move forward into our success. Here you are today, staring into the future of 2023. As you journey forward, it’s important to remember that……

What we do today matters. Our intention and action shape the future. Taking the time and taking care is critical to creating the world we want to see May the year in front of you be a transformative one, a year that brings you ever closer to your Vision

Be well and enjoy the moments

Derek