Creating your best year yet... one month at a time

The start of a bright, shiny new month is the perfect time to pause and reflect.  Hopefully you’ve already spent time thinking about the year ahead, what you want it to be like and set some goals.  If not I’d recommend doing it.  Why?  So you avoid getting to the end of the year and saying something like… “I don’t know where the year has gone but I don’t feel like I’ve achieved anything, it’s all been a blur”.  Sound familiar. 

Let’s focus on January.  Take time to reflect on what you’ve done, how you’ve felt and what you’ve learnt. 

It’s also a great opportunity to celebrate achievements and acknowledge lessons learnt.  Learning isn’t just about doing a course or reading a book.  If something went well or didn’t go well, what did you learn from it?  Maybe you did something you were fearful about and realised you can do anything you put your mind to (even if you’re feeling afraid!).

If January didn’t go as well as you’d have liked, remember … reflecting is not about piling on the negative self-talk and it’s not about judgement or blame.  We cannot change what has or hasn’t happened, we can only learn from it. 

Grab your journal now and answer these three questions.  Allow your thoughts to flow.  There’s no need to judge yourself or censor your thoughts.  

  1. What did I do?
  2. How did I feel?
  3. What did I learn?

REAL tip: As you answer the ‘what did I learn’ question also write down what you’d like to do more of, less of and start doing. You can incorporate these into next month.

Imagine it’s Saturday 28th February and you’re reflecting on the month or perhaps telling a friend about it… 

  • What have you experienced and achieved?
  • How are you feeling?
  • What have you learnt?

Write your answers to these questions in your journal.  Allow yourself to dream BIG.  It’s not about what others think you should do, this is about YOU.

Now it’s time to commit to paper what you’ll do and how you’ll be in February. 

Write down your goals for the month and the first few steps you’ll need to take.  Think about how you’ll be.  If you want to feel relaxed, centred and energised, think about what you’ll need to do to achieve that.  Working 12 hour days or running yourself ragged trying to tackle a mile long To Do list won’t help you feel relaxed, centred and energised!

Here are those three steps again... 

  1. Reflect on the month that’s been
  2. Imagine yourself at the end of the new month and what you’ll have done and how you’ll be feeling, and
  3. Commit to what you need to do in February and how you’ll be.

I trust February is a wonderful month for you and it’s how you want it to be.

Live a life you love x

       Tracey