You won't catch me doing that. I find setting New Year's resolutions or creating a lofty goal plan a complete waste of time.
I heard that *GASP* you just took (LOL)
Consider this for a moment. Have you ever noticed how traditional goal setting tends to focus on what is missing, lacking or needs changing? Yep, it can actually reinforce and remind us of what is not working or what we don't have.
OUCH! That's a recipe for setting ourselves up for a "downer" experience that doesn't feel very good. Who wants to start off the year feeling like *that*? It's no wonder so many people lose their motivation and enthusiasm for their resolutions and goals so quickly. Statistics prove that most people have abandoned them long before the month of January is over.
Would you like to test drive a new, inspiring and positively creative way to reach for your special stars this coming year? Yes. Then you need not look any further. You're in the right spot today. Read on..
A number of years ago, I came up with an uplifting five step process for my creative coaching clients (and me) that inspired many magical moments for them and for me. I'd like to share this process with you over the next week. Encourage you to try it out. See how it works for you. I'm betting that if you dive head first into this process and work through it, you're going to feel excited about what the coming year has in store for you.
Why Traditional Goal Setting Often Doesn't Work
Setting goals from a place of lack actually increases lack. It focuses on present pain for future, illusive gain. We artistic, creative types can become so impatient to get to where we want to go that our impatience stops any forward movement dead in its track. The longer our *want* is stalled, the more we focus on not having *IT* and the more we feel the lack. Some people call this ride on the merry go round the experience of being "circle jerked" LOL
Traditional goal setting asks us to be specific. Being specific is great in itself but it's not always easy for highly creative people to get a handle on. We can be pretty slippery and vague. If you say " I want to be successful artist" what does successful really mean to you? How will I know when I am successful? What will be happening? What will I be doing? are questions you need to ask and answer to get to the bottom of what "I want to be a successful artist" really means. I have also found that danger lurks in focusing too narrowly on creating a specific outcome. It rarely leaves any room for something to come to you wrapped in a slightly different package.
You see, sometimes, we are just too smart for our own britches. We think we know exactly how it will be and what it will look like. And often, we are wrong. We don't recognize *IT* when *IT* shows up because it is different than what we expected or thought it would be. We can miss out on a lot of magic.
Dare to Do Something Different
If traditional goal setting doesn't work for you, I have a simple solution. Stop doing it. Do something that will make you feel good.
Now any of you who have been coming to my blog for any length of time know that I am definitely someone who is addicted to feeling good. For me, there is nothing like a healthy shot of feeling good to get my inspirational and motivational molecules all lined up and headed in the right direction.
Wouldn't you like this too? If the answer is yes, then you are in for a treat over the next five days. Come along with me as I show you how to weave together your own special yarns and create a unique tapestry for your year ahead.
Let's Get Started
Between now and tomorrow, find a quiet, comfortable spot to just kick back, relax, close your eyes and randomly think and dream about your life, your art, your wants and wishes. Let it be a pleasant experience without the need to take notes or telling yourself you have to remember it all. Enjoy these moments of introspection and solitude with your "self". That's all you need to do to get ready.
About this process
This process has five steps:
1. Take an Inventory
2. Make Room for Magic
3. Listen to the Music of Your Soul
4. Listen to the Songs in Your Heart
5. Create a Year of Magnificent Choices
There are only a few important points to keep in mind as you embark on this process.
1. Choose some pretty, loose paper to write on with your favourite pen. Each step will require a new sheet of paper so depending on how much you write in response to the questions posed in any of the steps, you may need a couple of sheets for each step. You can use a *NEW* journal as long as you are prepared to use it for this process only. Not to give anything away, you'll understand why later on.
2. Finish each step you are working on in one session if you can.
3. Do the steps in order
4. Finish the entire document (all 5 steps) within seven days.
Effort = Magic
You have to put in the effort of completing ALL the steps to reap the magic. It doesn't have to be a lot of writing with every i dotted and every t crossed. You can draw or doodle to your heart's content if that's what you like to do. Draw "thought balloons" to record your musings. Use crayons or paint. Paste in pictures or photos. There is no right or wrong way to complete each step just as long as it feels good, you are having fun and it is a reflection of you and who you are.
Your Next Step
I hope you will join me and come back for a visit tomorrow (Monday) to discover Step One, Taking an Inventory in this "Wisdom Weaving for a New Year" process.
BTW... If you have a My Yahoo! or Goggle account or another news reader such as Bloglines, now might be a great time to sign up as a myStoryART Subscriber. The sign up box is at the top of this page, on the right. It's free and as a blog subscriber, you will automatically be notified as soon as new posts are added to myStoryART. This way you don't have to keep on coming back to the blog to check when a new post has been published.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Sharon