Promises to Yourself: The Power to Shape Your Destiny by Kira Henschel Starting a new year usually evokes a need to set new goals and overcome past digressions. We make promises to save more, to take off those 20 extra pounds, to exercise every day, to get that degree, to find that perfect mate. How successful have you been? If you're like most people, the first two weeks to two months are easy. You are motivated and determined. You have a clear goal before you. Then life happens. This year, imagine you're the captain of a ship called "My Destiny." You wouldn't start out your voyage without a clear destination, proper preparation, navigation skills, and great crew. You'd know the weather would change along the way or that there would be other challenges forcing you to make new decisions to stay on track. How prepared are you for 2002? Consider the following guidelines as you prepare for the New Year's voyage: -- Get Clarity: Find a quiet place and create a diagram or list of all the things you want to accomplish this year, incorporating as many images and details as you can. Keep your list or map with you, or hang it somewhere where you will see it every day. -- Enlist Support: Once we voice our goals and desires, naysayers, including the little voices in our own heads, seem to pop up all everywhere. Find a friend who will support your progress and cheer you on. Now is the time to hire personal coaches, fitness trainers and financial advisors. -- Treat Yourself as Your Own Best Friend: We often go out of our way to do nice things for other people. How often do we honestly praise ourselves for a job well done, a deadline met, or some other accomplishment? Learn to acknowledge and appreciate yourself. Whenever you pass a mirror, look yourself in the eye and appreciate yourself, or even say "I love you" as often as you say it to others. This one may take some practice; we are socialized to think that loving ourselves is egocentric or selfish. -- Move from Pain to Pleasure Thinking: Are you motivated by pain and fear, or by pleasure and happiness? Many of us are stressed out doing things for others to avoid pain -- the pain that may come from perceived rejection, withdrawn love, or even physical and mental abuse. Start observing how you move in the world and consciously act in a way that brings you pleasure. Choose positive rather than negative words when writing your goals ("live smoke-free" rather than "quit smoking"). -- Welcome Change: Does change frighten you or invigorate you? Too many changes at one time can be stressful. However, if we live our lives rigidly and judgmentally, we block our path to growth and transformation. Change occurs within, in our thoughts, attitudes and actions. Every voyage has its risks. Risks or challenges help us feel more alive. Include on your list or map of 2002 resolutions something new, something challenging, something others might say is crazy. Make the most of this wonderful life! As you chart your course for 2002, choose to live with joy, love and harmony. Choose to surround yourself with positive people and energy. Choose to spread that joy and love to your family, your community and beyond. Desire, believe and expect the best things to happen to you as you move forward on your journey -- and they will. You have the power to shape your destiny. Kira Henschel, M.S., is a personal coach, business consultant and Reiki Master Teacher with Clarity Consultants, in Madison, Wisc. Her purpose here is to help people focus on and accomplish their goals toward achieving fulfillment and freedom. Please visit www.clarity-consultants.com for the 2002 workshop schedule or call (608) 218-1646. Copyright © 2002 Kira Henschel |
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