by Kathy Gulrich
 

I find that many of us finish up the year by thinking about our New Year's Resolutions for next year.

Not a bad idea, actually. 

Except for the fact that many of these resolutions are all about what we did wrong this year!
 

• I'll stop eating junk food 
• Stop smoking
• Be nicer to my family
• Find more time for my friends
• Clean out the garage
• Replace the broken VCR

Do I need to go on?

Today I'd like to take a look at 2004 from a different perspective.

As the year comes to a close, let's start by celebrating our accomplishments.  Let's focus on what we've learned, rather than what we've missed.  From this space, it will be much easier (and probably much more effective) to make our resolutions for next year. 

I encourage you to take some time - maybe even an hour or so - to write your answers to these five questions:

1. What three things did you accomplish this year that you are most proud of?

2. What was the toughest challenge you were faced with this year?  What did you learn?

3. How have you learned that you are stronger and more talented than you thought?

4. Is there anything that you need to complete in order to start fresh next year (for example: finish a project, or resolve a conflict with someone)?

5. What inspired you or captured your imagination this year?
 

Once that's done, write your answers to these:

6. What would you need to do differently in the coming year to live your best year ever?

7. By December 2005, what is the most important goal you want to be sure you have achieved?
 

What's next?  Once you've gotten this far, it's easy.  All you need to do is make sure that your resolutions for 2005 are aligned with - and totally support - your answers to questions six and seven!

More about how to do this in the next newsletter article....

Meanwhile, my heartfelt wishes for a wonderful holiday season!