Finding Your Courage – Another Year Over And Do YOU Have A List Of Good Things?

Soon we’ll be getting all those television programmes that review the year just gone. There’ll be events we thought we’d never forget about, that we now can barely remember. There’ll be other apparently trivial events that stick in our memory. And underneath it all, perhaps a nagging sensation... another year where things were much the same... same old goals set... same old nothing achieved.

If this is you, STOP!

I want you, right now, to stop this negative talk. Somehow, you conscientious person that you are, you think you’ll motivate yourself by telling yourself off, listing all your inadequacies and vowing to do better next year.

Well it didn’t work last year, did it?

And this is the time of year when goodwill towards men (and women) is supposed to abound. So be good to yourself. And if you do the following exercise you’ll really be able to express goodwill to yourself and others. You’ll need a relatively tranquil space and a notebook and pen to do this.

1. Reflect on the last year and think of all the good things that have happened – your achievements, the events that made you feel good, things you found amusing and, most of all, significant links you have made with others. People you feel really connected to and are pleased to count as your friends. Write this down so you can review your list of good things.

2. Really praise yourself when you have shown your good qualities - your generosity, your concern for others, your ability to laugh in the midst of troubles and smile at small children. Yes, I know, I’m getting carried away and it’s sounding like an ad on the Hallmark channel. But you get the drift. Big up your positive qualities and write this down.

3. Now reflect on all of the learnings from this past year and all of the life experience you will take into your future. And accept that the great learnings you have gained can easily be integrated with your past and taken into your future.

4. Resolve to use any quiet space you may find before 2010 to reflect on this wonderful crazy year and take this wonderful gorgeous you into the first week of January and beyond with joy, enthusiasm and love.

5. And now get back to your holiday preparations but tread lightly, live lovingly and enjoy.

(c) 2010 Liz Copeland