Each month, you will receive some practical tips on ideas such as eliminating stress, finding your passion, clearing clutter, and maybe even some travel tips and more. Also look for helpful resources including book titles and websites. In addition, don’t be surprised when you find a call to action. I am a coach, after all! I hope you find some useful tidbits monthly challenges. If you know someone that you think may find something of value in here, please forward this newsletter on. And remember…the adventure begins at the start of The Trailhead!

New Year/New You

Welcome to January! Here we are again-the start of another New Year. I love this time of year…we get to erase and obliterate all the things that didn’t work for us in the previous year, wipe the slate clean and start once again with  an empty canvas. It’s a time for renewal, and an opportunity to explore the vast possibilities that lie both in the moment and in the months ahead.

The photo you see on this month’s newsletter shows me grinning from one of my favorite environments: outdoors, in the sun, by the sea. (Admittedly, you’d see the same grin if the setting was on top of a sun-kissed mountain or in a dense forest surrounded by towering trees) The point is; I made a choice to start off the New Year, paying attention to my “wants” instead of my “shoulds” then took it a step further to begin that awareness in an environment that energizes me. So, I did some research, found an incredibly low fare for a flight to Southwest Florida, grabbed my Travelin’ Man and we headed off to begin the New Year in a warm and sunny climate….a place we “wanted” to be instead of where we “should” be.

 

So often, we begin the New Year with a host of resolutions-things we promise to do for ourselves that will enhance our life (or others lives) in some way. But let’s face it…those traditional resolutions that we so intensely make for ourselves in January often go down the tubes by the time February or March arrives. Why is that?? I have come to realize that despite our very best intentions, our resolutions often fail because many of them are filled with “shoulds”. We “should” lose weight. We “should” exercise more. We “should” start looking for a new job. We “should” have better communication with that cranky person we frequently deal with. Yet, although those resolutions may have the best of intentions, they may not reflect our true “wants” and instead may be based on others expectations of ourselves. I say that it’s time to bag the old resolution stuff and try a new approach.

 

 

Wouldn’t it be more fun to embrace this New Year, feeling energized, excited, stimulated, and invigorated to make some positive changes that really reflect what you WANT? What gets you going and makes you light up and grin just thinking about it? As you follow the path to what you really want, first go inside your soul. By setting an internal “want” first (like wanting to become more open and honest, bold, or creative) you will find that you will begin to attract opportunities that support your external “wants” , thus taking the focus off those nasty “shoulds”. What will that mean for YOU in this New Year? What exciting changes/shifts will you want to make to lead yourself in a positive and invigorating direction? What forward steps will you want to take to make it a New Year/New You?

 

Challenge at the Trailhead:

This month, why not crank up your awareness skills and pay attention to what it is you really WANT this year. Then put the focus on some positive possibilities. Here is a list of 10 great suggestions (taken from Philadelphia Inquirer staff writer, Karen Heller): (or better yet, make your ownJ)

• Be adventurous: Travel. Go someplace you’ve never been before. Get lost. Your eyes widen when challenged with the new.
• Challenge convention: Especially about yourself. Try an activity you never saw yourself trying. Mark each month by experimentation
• Abandon guilt: A waste of time. If something’s troubling you, take action or get over it. Don’t whine, boring your family and friends
• Stop procrastinating: Ditto. Leads to guilt. So stop. Now.
• Exercise: Do this, eat right, and you won’t need to diet. Far more rewarding and varied than a dull existence of rice crackers, celery, and lo-fat microwave gruel.
• Support local business: Enriches the community, feels good, helps others, and increases chances for meeting other interesting people, while slowing down the global meiosis of sense-numbing big-box stores.
• Trim the fat: Discard unworn clothes, books, stuff, etc. Give to charity or trash. Do the same with your social life. Extricate yourself from tedious obligations. Jettison difficult friends, nasty co-workers. Politely put them on the back burner. You’ll instantly feel lighter and better. 
• Reconnect with dear friends, adopt new ones: Because the more great people that are in your life, the better your life is going to be. Make time to see good friends who live out of town.
• Pamper yourself: Actively worth pursuing. Start the New Year with a positive approach, embracing rather than denying, and it’s bound to be a better one than last year.

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On The Trailhead Bookshelf (all related to bringing forth a New Year/New You)

 

Now What? 90 Days to a New Life Direction- by Laura Berman Fortgang

Life Makeovers: 52 Practical and inspiring ways to improve your life, one week at a time- by Cheryl Richardson

Repacking Your Bags: Lighten your load for the rest of your life by- Richard Leider and David Shapiro

Awakening at Midlife: A guide to reviving your spirit, recreating your life, and returning to your truest self- by Kathleen A. Brehony

 

 

That’s it for this month! Thanks for reading. As my creative friend, Anne Knoll (www.knollphotos.com) says, “Paint wildly, boldly, beautifully-all year long!”

Warm wishes,

Patt

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