The Year Ahead: 2012

In my previous post, Time To Reflect: 2011, I mentioned I had written down my words for 2011, but what I didn’t mention was that I also jotted down a few goals for the year. On a piece of scrappy paper, I had written what I wanted to achieve in 2011. Like with my words, I had forgotten about my goals until I came across the piece of paper when I was packing up my things in Bristol to move back to The Netherlands. Not only that, when I found it again this morning I noticed that out of the six goals, I achieved five this year. Wow.

Looking ahead to 2012, and as I am in a different place to last year when I was setting my goals, has my focus changed? Do I want similar things? Do I want to build on my 2011 achievements?

One way in which I think about my goals is to think about how balanced the three main areas of my life are: a ‘tool’ I learnt through my hypnotherapy training. The three main areas I look at with clients are jobs*, relationships** and the way we feel about ourselves. Each area affects the other area(s) and when one area is out of balance, another area will sooner or later be affected, if we don’t do something about it. For example, think about how you feel about yourself if you dislike your job. Day in, day out, you reluctantly go to work – how does that affect your mood? Do you feel grumpy, angry, stressed? When you feel that way, does that have an effect on your relationships? How do your colleagues react to you when you’re feeling angry? Do you take your frustration out on your partner?

When we feel good about ourselves, we tend to have good relationships with others and we can carry on with our job, whatever that may be. And the other way round. These three areas are intertwined.

So, look at each of the three areas and ask yourself: “On a scale of 0 to 10, where 0 is I want to jump off a bridge and 10 is everything is as I would like it to be, where am I in terms of my job(s)? Relationship(s)? The way I feel about myself?”

Once you’ve rated each area, think about how you are going to climb up the scale. If you’re already at 10, then think about how you can continue to stay at 10. What small thing can you do to help you go from a 5 to a 6? What does that 6 look like? What action can you take to get closer to that 6? Of course, then you will need to take that action!

This is a great exercise to shift your thinking from “things happen to me” to “I can make things happen”. It gives you a sense of control and choice. 

In the next few days I will think about my goals for next year and I’ll be sure to write them down in a notebook, along with my word for the year.

What will you make happen in 2012? I would love to know, and please keep me posted on your progress. 

Happy New Year!

*Jobs can include your daily work, or your role as a mother, father, housewife, etc.

**Relationships with your partner (or lack of partner), family, friends, colleagues, etc.