The new year has arrived!  There is hope and possibility in the air of,  not only a new year, but a fresh new decade to create.

But before you totally close the book on 2009, take the time to review your year.  Admittedly, 2009 was a tough year for many.  It has been filled with challenges of all kinds.  When speaking about the New Year, I have heard many of my friends using the phrase “good riddance’. 

I am going to challenge you here.  Review your year and make note of all the good stuff.  Even look into the not so good stuff and find something good- something you learned, something that happened that was good because of  or in the midst of your challenges.  Now really look for all of the good things. Write them all down.  Writing new resolutions can sometimes be negative because all we end up focusing on are the things we didn’t follow through on last year.  When you review your year prior to this, you are paving a much clearer, positive way for creating the year you want to have in 2010.

Look back through your appointment book or PDA.  Remember all of the great times you spent with friends, volunteered, helped someone, successful meetings, all of your successes- of all sizes, opportunities you saw and acted on, things you did to take care of yourself, time with your kids/family, trips you took, things you learned, books you read- all of the things you did right.

It is so easy for us to be beating ourselves up about what we didn’t do, and to focus on all of the things that have gone wrong.   Today spend the day thinking about all you have done well in the past year, and use that as the powerful foundation for writing your new resolutions.  And make a resolution to keep your mind this year- oh at least 80% of the time- on what you are doing well and what is going well, and to stop beating yourself up so much!

Happy New Year to all!  2010 holds all of the blessings you desire- your part it to make sure to be looking for them and acting on them!

Check out yesterday’s blog post for part one!

Continuing the conversation- your personal environments are a key element in whether you will reach your goals in 2010 in the best possible way. 

 For many of my clients it has been as simple as cleaning and de-cluttering their home, office, and even their car.  The condition of your physical environments is also a very good indicator of what is going on inside your mind, as well. 

Clutter outside=clutter inside. 

Your environment is either supporting you or holding you back.  What is happening in your life, your business?

Another very important piece of your environment is the people you choose to spend time with.  Surrounding yourself with people who support, uplift and inspire you is extremely important.  This can be a very touchy area for some of us.

What must you change regarding your environment in order to have the solid foundation that will support you in 2010?

Once you decide what it is- once again set your plan with deadlines to get it done!  Enjoy the breathing space, increased energy and clarity that an uncluttered enviroment can bring!

I had the good fun and fortune to be a guest on the 107.1 fm show- Corm and the Coach yesterday!  Corm and I started a lively discussion about making changes in the new year.  I am going to be posting the points I shared on the show and more over the next few days leading up to the last day of the year.

One of the best ways to make big changes is to be prepared.  Creating a great foundation requires clearing the way.  Unfinished business can hang around you like chains, holding you back from moving toward your goals, dreams and aspirations. 

What unfinished business would you like to clear out of the way in the next few days that will help to pave the way for big success (by your definition) in 2010? 

Who do you need to clear things up with, say you are sorry to, or forgive?  Keep in mind that one of these people may be you, yourself.

What promises did you make that still need to be fulfilled in order for you to freely move forward into the new year?  Maybe you can make a new arrangement, but at least acknowledging it can help.   Again, you may have made some unfulfilled promises to yourself.

What projects are still hanging over your head?  Are they still important?  If yes, make a plan to finish things up- in writing- and just get it done.  OR delegate the project to someone suitable for the job.

Remember, these things make take time and energy, but they have certainly been stealing your energy all the while they have been hanging around.  Losing energy to holding grudges, not finishing things, and not following through takes a big toll and is costing you a peaceful and joyful life.

What is worth to you to get your unfinished business finished this week?  Just imagine moving freely and clearly into the new year- about a million pounds lighter?  Give yourself the gift of a great foundation to rest your resolutions on! 

 Are you committed?  Decided now what you need to do to make it happen!

I know it sounds cliche, but I find myself asking “where did the year go?”  I feel like I just blinked and yet another holiday season is upon us!   I probably say this every year.

This, for many, can feel like less than a joyful time of year.

Things have happened this year that have been difficult.  Loved ones have been lost,  jobs have ended, the unexpected has happened, the economy has been challenging, the flu and other things have been going around for months, the gym closed without warning,  plans fell through…….  Most of us have experienced some type of disappointment during the year big and small.

Though the realities still exist, the challenge at this time is to find a way to put aside the unsupportive and sad feelings that can accompany the difficulties, to find a way to rejoice in the peace and beauty of the season.  There is hope and renewal to be found now, if you decide to look for it.  It’s just waiting for you.

Remember last year?  What things did you say you would never do again?  What did you wish you had done, but ran out of time, or didn’t plan for it?

It is only December 3rd.  You have time, when you start now, to plan the holidays the way you want them.  Decide now to make the season your most meaningful yet.  What would have to occur in order for that to happen?

Today is the last day of  November and we are on the brink of (at least) a couple of different things- one, the beginning of  a new month- a fresh start, and two, ending the year- and thinking about finishing the year strong.  Starting and finishing all at the same time!  What a mixed up bunch of great energy those two situations can create!

What does finishing the year strong mean to you?

What would you finally like to get done this month before you carry it into the new year?

Who can help you?

What just doesn’t matter anymore that you can let go of?

Take some time to make a plan for the month of December for your business and your life to finish the year in a way that makes you feel proud.  Now is your fresh start to finishing the year strong!

This month has been devoted to thankfulness and gratefulness at my blog.  As the end of the month nears, I am thinking about how important keeping the spirit of this thankful time of year present year around would be.

It is great that we have Thanksgiving and the weeks preceeding to bring to consciousness rememberance of all the wonderful things that we have in our lives.  Many people joined me this year in bringing their levels of gratefulness to new levels, and some even taking the Thanksgiving week challenge to write down 500 things they are thankful for.

Though this time of year and throughout the holidays can be magical, realistically we know that every other time of year is just as magical.  It is just that we may be more purposeful about looking for the magic right now.

What if you treated the entire year with the spirit of Thanksgiving?  How would things look better to you in your life if you immersed yourself in gratefulness for the next year, and beyond.

Try these ideas:

Keep a daily gratitude journal all year long.

Write at least on thank you note or email each day to someone who deserves it.

Tell at least one person, in person, each day why you are grateful for them or something they have done for you or others.  Thank them.

How are you thankful for yourself?  Write down a few things each day to pat yourself on the back.  Giving ourselves personal recognition is many times the last thing we are inclined to do.  It is not selfish or self centered- this is for you in the privacy of your journal.   Strengthen yourself with this new habit.

What else could you do to make this next year the most gratitude-filled of your life?

The 100 Day Challenge, Day 100!!:

Yahoo!!  I made it to day 100 of my 100 day challenge!  Today’s the day!  For those of you who have been following me all along, you will remember that back on August 17 th I began the challenge to post something on my blog.

I am SO thankful to have made it successfully to my goal.

It is funny, at times I felt the end was so far, and now that I have reached it, it seems to have gone by so quickly- can you relate to that?

Because I have devoted this month’s postings to thankfulness and gratefulness, I want to mention why I am thankful for this challenge and what I have received.

I am thankful for the people I have “met” during the challenge- those who were in my challenge group- and all they have shared to inspire me along the way, I am thankful for learning to write more often with less censoring, I am thankful for all of the people- especially my Facebook friends- that have not only read a lot of my posts, but have taken time to comment or to let me know that they have held meaning for them, I am thankful for a place to increase my self discipline, I am thankful for all I have learned about myself and about blogging, and I am thankful for my husband supporting me at times when it was hard or I was tired,  I am thankful for a new chapter to begin!!

What habit would you like to change or attain in 100 days?   How different would your life be in 100 days?

The 100 Day Challenge, Day 99!:

Deborah Norville recently wrote a book called Thank You Power.  In it she says “There is no dramatic difference in people who are wealthy.  Happiness and “thank you power” are not about material things, but rather the moments in your life that have made you feel that life is good.”

According to Deborah, gratitude can help eliminate allergies, headaches and could even extend your life!  “Gratitude helps to un-do stress in our lives.”  More great reasons for expressing our gratitude.

I have been taught for a very long time by many teachers that expressing gratitude for things makes the space for more good to come into my life.  I like that!

Today I began my annual Thanksgiving week list of 500 things I am thankful for.   I have also begun to play the Thank You game.  It’s easy to play and I heard about it from one of my mentor’s Cheryl Richardson.  This is how it works- you go out of your way to express your thanks, especially to those you don’t always think to thank.  Teachers, service people, neighbors, co-workers- doing something nice for them inexpensively- usually with a few kind words of gratitude.

Let’s make this week the most uplifting,  joyful week in recent memory!  Writing thanks, saying thanks- immersing ourselves in gratitude for who we are, what we already have, who we have in our lives and all of the more abundance that is already on its way to us.  That’s thank you POWER!

The 100 Day Challenge, Day 98:

This year especially, with all the H1N1 going around, flus, colds and everything else, it is a little easier to feel thankful when you are feeling good and healthy.  Sometimes we can take good health for granted, and only after we’ve had a bought with sickness, can we remember to rejoice and feeling our best.

Take time this week to think about how lucky you are if you are healthy and feeling good.  If you are sick this week make good choices to help yourself heal as quickly as possible.  That means taking care of yourself mentally and physically.

When we are well, we are in a great position to be nurturing to those around us who may not be well.  Think to ask- how can I be an extra special blessing to their healing?

What new habit can you start (or re-start) this week to improve your health for the long term?  Start your New Year’s resolutions now- they will serve you well during the holiday season!

The 100 Day Challenge, Day 97!:

Today I am feeling gratitude for being a part of something bigger than just me!  A group of us put our heads together and are putting on a show tonight at the Main Street Landing Black Box Theatre, which was kindly donated for our use.  Our show benefits the Go Red for Women program of the American Heart Association.  Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in women and we aim to raise money for making women aware and to also do so through our actions and events.

Tonight will be no exception- in every way it is community coming together for a great cause.  People came from all directions to help.  I am thankful for what a group of people on a mission can create together!

What passion do you have that you could put to use in helping your community in some way.  Helping others gets our minds off ourselves and what is happening in our world.  In most cases you end up feeling even more gratitude for the life you have.  Pick a charity today- during this season of  love, thankfulness and giving back.  What will you do to make a difference?  What are you already doing?  Share with us!