New Beginnings: 3 Steps for Starting the New Year Off Right!

Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I feel very optimistic about this year! I spent most of December making a few changes in my life so I would be prepared to start fresh in 2007.

Some of the changes I've made over the last month:

• My first big change: I moved from Boston to Park City, Utah. After living away from my family for the last 10 years, I’m excited to be a part of family life once again. I’m leading a healthier and more active lifestyle. And I’m having a lot more fun playing in the snow and spending time with new friends.
• My second big change: my boyfriend of 3 ½ years and I acknowledged that there were some parts of our relationship that we just didn’t like. My moving to Utah has allowed us to evaluate our relationship in a new way. The verdict is still out as to what our relationship will look like in the future. But whatever happens, we’re both happy to be making some real changes, rather than accepting a less than stellar relationship.
• My third big change: I finally had the guts to leave a well-paying but emotionally draining “day job”. It took a long time to let go of that safety net, but I can’t tell you how much energy I’ve gained from letting go of something I outgrew years ago.

Are you ready to take advantage of the blank slate of the New Year? If so, here are a few steps you can take to making 2007 your best year yet!

Yep, a lot of changes in such a short period of time! But I realize I’ve been building the foundation for making these changes for a while. And now that 2007 has arrived, I’m ready to experience a true new beginning!

1) Dream a Little Dream. So many people I talk to have a “dream”, a vision for the way their life would be in an ideal world. They talk about this dream as though it’s something that just can’t happen for them - at least not in this lifetime. They wistfully describe this perfect life, and then end the discussion with “well, enough daydreaming. It’ll never happen anyway.” When I ask why, I get a barrage of excuses: I have too many responsibilities. I’m too old. I don’t have the time/money/energy (take your pick). It breaks my heart to see the passion within these people, who then work so hard to suffocate that passion. They let year after year slip away without taking steps toward making those dreams a reality. What they don’t realize is that denying their passion is takes away their zest for life. They spend a lifetime ignoring what makes them happy, and settling for a life that doesn't excite them. That’s why the first step in creating a new beginning is allowing yourself to just dream. You don’t have to worry about how you would make this dream a reality. For now, just consider what is missing in your life that would make it amazing. Don’t hold back. Don’t try to justify your passion. And please, please, whatever you do, don’t ignore your passion. Just dream.

2) Feel the Fear. Every change I’ve ever made in my life started with a little fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of taking a new risk (what if this doesn’t work out and I end up worse off than I am now?). Even when our lives are boring or stagnant or even unsatisfying, at least we know what to expect. As human beings, it’s natural to feel comfort in the familiar. But real personal growth just doesn’t happen without moving from the familiar into the unfamiliar. We can’t overcome our challenges without facing our fears and experiencing unpredictability. And the good news is, even though it’s scary, its through acknowledging our fears that we rise above them. So the second step in creating a new beginning is to acknowledge your fear. You don’t have to try to overcome it or ignore it. Just accept that it’s there. Trust that it’s completely normal, but don't let it stop you. Know deep inside that the fear you're feeling now will subside.

3) Open yourself up to new opportunities. Once you’ve felt the fear of real change, you have a choice: you can either retreat back into the life you’ve been living, or you can take a deep breath and Go For It. Sometimes going for it means being proactive and aggressively seeking out those things that will make your dream a reality. And sometimes going for it means just being receptive to the things that life presents to you. One thing I’ve been experiencing since making all of these changes in my life is that new opportunities come to me without my having to find them. Instead of struggling so much to make things happen for myself, I’ve noticed that new opportunities are coming my way naturally. These days my job is to consider all of these opportunities and decide which ones are congruent with what I want my life to look like. This is easier said than done, but the more I do it, the better I get at it. So the third step in creating a new beginning in your life is: take steps toward your goal slowly and thoughtfully, and otherwise just be open to what the Universe has to offer you. You may be pleasantly surprised with what happens.

January is the perfect time to get started on creating a life that excites and fulfills you. Keep these tips in mind as you start making your dreams a reality. Have a wonderful month, and we’ll talk more in February!!