Creating the Life You Want: Making 2011 a Year to Remember!  

Here we are in February already and many are asking themselves: What is in store for me this year? The answer to that question is quite simple: It is exactly what you make it to be. For, you see, you are the director of this play we call life. You have the power to create the life of your dreams or a life full of drama. Why is it that some people have such exciting and fulfilling lives, and others seem to bumble along in a hazy world of confusion? It comes down to focus and attention. What we focus on and give our attention to will expand and be drawn to us. So as February marches on, what do you want to focus on this year? What would make this year a year that you look back on with a sense of thrill and excitement? What would give meaning to your life?  

Here is a plan to get you motivated: 

1.     Choose a day and time that you can devote to creating the year ahead. Make a date for yourself and stick to it! 

2.    On your creation day, have a pen and some paper handy, turn the phone and computer off, and spend some time centring yourself. This could be something simple like having a cup of tea and relaxing in the garden, or you can sit quietly with your eyes closed and direct your attention inward. It’s important to get out of your mind and go to your heart. If you can connect with your soul, you will really hear what it is you want and need. 

3.    When you feel like you are connected with the deeper parts of yourself, simply ask the question: What is it that I want this year? What do I want to accomplish? What would make my heart sing? What would bring more peace into my life? What would give me something exciting to get out of bed for? Begin by jotting down some ideas that you would like to explore: travelling, starting a business, having a baby, changing jobs, learning how to play guitar, doing a retreat, getting fit, getting out of debt, learning to relax, strengthening relationships with children, having more fun, starting a herb garden, losing weight, buying a house, renovating the house, getting off my medication, spending time in nature. Just allow the ideas to flow in a natural way. Don’t think about any of the ideas too much; just keep writing until you get the sense that you’re done. 

4.    Next, go through the ideas and circle the ones that jump out at you. For each circled idea, answer the following questions: 

·         What would need to happen for this aspect of my life to be fulfilled? Jot down some ideas: Travelling might involve going to France and seeing the Eiffel Tower; getting out of debt might include finding other ways to earn income or changing jobs, doing a budget, or approaching the bank (or your parents!) for a loan to consolidate. 

·         How could I make this happen this year? The travel issue might include going to a travel agent to enquire about flights to France. Getting out of debt might include making an appointment with your bank or downloading a budget from the internet. 

·         When will you achieve what you want? Set a reasonable time frame. "I’d love to spend Christmas in Paris."  "By Sept I will be debt free."  

·         What will your life look like when this aspect is changed? Visualise yourself once you have achieved what you want. As you think and dream about each idea, close your eyes and create a picture of how this will manifest in your life. See the new you. See your savings account at $10,000. Imagine yourself in a warm wooly coat walking down the Champs Elysees with the Eiffel Tower in the distance. It’s up to your own imagination. Our dreams begin in our minds as thoughts and pictures and then they move into our heart as passion and excitement,  and then out into the world as reality.  

5.    Finally, you can choose to either create some vision cards or design a vision board or both.  

·         To Create Vision Cards: Using affirming, strong, positive words, describe what you want to create this year. Write these vision statements on cards or print them on heavy paper. I use plain cards you can buy without any writing inside them. Or you can use 4X6 filing cards. Write with coloured pens or felts and make them nice to look at. Try to create a sense of excitement with the words you use. Here are a few examples:  

“I have all the money I need to bring everything I need and desire into my life. My income is constantly increasing. I deserve to prosper. Money is abundant and flows spontaneously in life and I have all I want and need.” 

“I am free to choose the life of my dreams and to give priority to my desires. Everything falls into place to allow me to travel to Paris for Christmas this year and see the Eiffel Tower in all its glory. I deserve wonderful things to happen in my life today and every day. I deserve to go on a holiday. I allow myself to have the best time of my life.”  

“I have the power to change myself. I am fit, healthy and strong. I lose 10 kilos and my body feels and looks great. I walk along the beach with confidence. I feel at peace within. I am whole, strong, powerful and loving. I can do anything I set my mind to, including changing myself.” 

“I deserve to have a prosperous career.  I rejoice in the job I do. It brings me a deep sense of fulfilment and pleasure. I am doing what I am meant to be doing and I draw the right people at the right time into my life.” 

Once you have made the cards, place them somewhere you will see them every day so that you can read them out loud to yourself. We need to be reminded of the things we want on a regular basis. It’s amazing how our focus gets off track throughout the days and weeks as we get bogged down with all the “stuff” we are doing. So, make the cards and read them each day to stay focussed and on track. And watch as your dreams become reality!

·         To Design a Vision Board: Collect pictures, words and/or photos that represent what you want in your life this year. Look through old magazines, the newspaper or on the internet or go to the travel agency and ask for some brochures (if you want to travel). You can also use felt pens or paints. Choose several strong, positive words to symbolise what you want this year (for example, Peace, Joy, Fun, Togetherness, and Adventure), and use them on your vision board. Buy a large piece of coloured construction paper from your newsagency. Start by cutting out pictures and laying them out on the paper. Shuffle them around until it looks good, and then glue things in place. Find a good place in your home for your vision board (next to your bed so it’s the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning and the last thing at night, on the fridge or in your office.) When you look at it each day, just affirm that it is all happening as the pictures dictate. If you’d like to see my vision boards for 2010 and 2011, go   Designing a Vision Board  &  Vision Board 2011.