It does
however require the investment of a couple of hours in one block of time over
the next 3 days and the investment of honesty with yourself.
What I
suggest you do is not a sure-fire guarantee to a successful 2018, however it
will ensure you have a better chance than most of achieving your success.
Importantly,
how we measure success is unique to each of us and each of us only. One
challenge is to use our own success measure and not one we feel we should
accept due to family, societal of any other pressures.
Let us
start.
It is day
one of the new year.
It is time
to write a review of the 2018 year as at 31 December.
This is not
a writing error, I do mean 31 December 2018.
Place yourself
on Monday 31 December 2018 and write down a review of the year exactly how you
want it to be.
For example,
is there any study you want to start, complete or progress? In my case, I will
be writing:
“I am
pleased to have completed my Journalism Degree. I was aware I took on a big
load to complete it this year but I am glad I did and can now officially call
myself a Journalist”.
Chances are
you have some travel plans or ideas for 2018. I do too and today I will write
something like:
“Having
spent time in Chicago and St Louis, it was an easy flight to San Francisco for
the AMTRACK connection to the Grand Canyon. The sheer size and raw beauty of the
Canyon was beyond expectations. The contrast of the Grand Canyon with Yellowstone
and Yosemite made all stops more spectacular.”
Can you see
what I am getting at? I am writing my achievements about the year ahead as if
they have already happened. Take my travel comments. I have already made a commitment
to be in Chicago and I know precisely what dates I will be there and what I
will be doing. It is what I then do in America that I need to plan and execute.
It s not
only the big-ticket items that are addressed.
Like many others, you may have become very competent in accumulating "stuff". I certainly have and will be writing:
“I have
finished 2018 far less cluttered than I started it. The decision that I would
not buy an article of clothing without first discarding two old items has made
a huge difference to my physical environment and proved almost liberating”.
Then again,
perhaps this is a big-ticket item after all.
No matter
what their age, perhaps there is something to write about your relationship
with parents or children.
A possible
example might be:
Committing
to being less judgemental and more trusting towards those closest has
proved very positive for our relationship and sense of fun and joyfulness as a
family unit.
Concerning
health, I will be writing much the same as I have for the last 10 years:
“I finish
the year fitter, stronger and healthier physically, mentally and spiritually
than I was on this day last year”.
This process
is not difficult however it can be challenging. It certainly takes honesty and
even a little bravery. You may choose to share the review of your year ahead but
equally, you may keep it to yourself. It matters more that you do it.
Recording
the future as if it has actually happened is a powerful tool and places in you
mind the seeds to be grown throughout the year. The difficulty many face when
doing this the first time is slipping back in to writing in the form of an objective
or a wish. There should not be words like “I plan to”, “I intend to” or “I will”.
By all means
visit your document on a regular basis however avoid the temptation to edit it
because chances are any change will be less aspirational than what you write
today.
One final
suggestion. Take a notebook and pen to write your year in review. Anecdotal
evidence suggests this is more powerful and authentic than using a keyboard.
You may even start a new notebook and then use it for daily journaling, which
is another good habit to get in to.
I use an A5
size hardcover notebook which is also easy to take with me and I do take it,
pretty much everywhere I go.
Enjoy
reviewing 2018, today.
 |
| My Much Travelled 2017 Note Book |
No comments:
Post a Comment