I may have asked you this question before, but it’s so relevant to this time of year that I’m going to ask it again:

Where will you be in 6 months if you keep doing what you’re doing?

Before you answer that, this question begs a few follow ups:

Do you like where you see yourself in 6 months if you keep doing what you’re doing? Where do you want to be 6 months from now? Is what you’re doing now helping you to achieve that vision of your life? If not, what’s stopping you from changing it? Habit? Fear? Lack of clarity? Confidence? Courage? Worry that you will hurt someone’s feelings?

Life isn’t slowing down. Every day, another sunrise is swallowed up by the sunset. About 360 thousand babies are born and another 152 thousand people die every single day around the world. That’s 250 births and 150 deaths each minute. For every baby born, will each person who died get to tell them that they fulfilled their life’s purpose? Probably not. And except for the most drastic of circumstances (i.e. living in a war torn country, famine, extreme poverty, lack of equal opportunity, etc.), the hard truth is that it’s usually their own fault. I know, I know. Harsh. But the truth sometimes doesn’t feel good going down (hence why there are so many of us who have trouble admitting when we are wrong).

If you’re reading this, I’m willing to bet you live in a country where opportunities are endless. And so, really, the ball is in your court, my friend. Are you going to just keep dribbling that ball? Or are you going to line up for a shot on net?

How do you want to live your life? Have you mistakenly written yourself off because it’s “too late,” you’re simply too old, you don’t know enough, you didn’t get the education you needed, you have too many responsibilities now, or insert-excuse-here?

Just because excuses are valid doesn’t mean they aren’t excuses. And it doesn’t mean they’re working for you either. As long as we live and breathe – and live in a country that allows for endless opportunity – we always have the power to change our fate. It’s our minds that trick us into thinking otherwise.

Why am I talking about this right now?

Because the end of 2015 is coming, that’s why. And 2016 is looking bright and shiny, just like 2015 once did (though you may not being seeing it through that lens anymore). As we bring this year to a close, I think it’s important to reflect on what went right, what went wrong, what surprised us, and what we would like to finish up before the clock strikes midnight in 3 weeks’ time. What good is planning for the New Year if we haven’t learned the lessons – and cherished the memories – from the old one yet?

A HELPFUL EXERCISE TO GET YOU READY FOR 2016

To help guide you through the process of putting your foot down, wrapping up 2015 and welcoming 2016 as Your Year (and being exactly where you want to be – or at least on the right road to it – in 6 months), there is a great 23 minute exercise from this wonderful woman named Emily Fletcher. A former Broadway dancer who is cute as a button, she created one of the only online meditation training programs for regular people like you and me called ZIVAMIND. It’s for everyone, and especially people who may think meditation is a waste of time, or fear it, or simply don’t see a place for it in their lives (been there). She makes it accessible, easy and actually fun.

Emily put together an exercise for the New Year called Finish Strong, Start Stronger, and I highly encourage you to do it this week. You still have a few weeks to wrap up some of 2015’s projects, so don’t wait. If you do, the only person who will suffer is you.

The exercise will have you reflect on your life in 2015 and put together the pieces like you would a movie trailer. Did you make new friends? Did you land a new job? Did you leave a job you hated? Did you deepen any relationships? Did you laugh until you peed? How many times? Did you see an amazing movie? Did you eat your favorite meal? If your life could have a soundtrack, what would it sound like?

Emily asks you to focus on everything that happened in 2015 – good and bad – and to reflect on it. She encourages you to wrap up anything that needs closing before 2015 is over, and then she moves onto 2016.

What would you like the soundtrack of your life in 2016 to be? What word do you want to represent you in 2016? Bravery? Courage? Fun? Happiness? Bliss? What 3 things do you want to accomplish financially this year? Spiritually? Professionally? What 3 things do you want to create in your personal life? Don’t worry about answering those questions here. She will guide you through them in the exercise.

Whether you’re in the best place of your life, or you know you could use a little finessing (couldn’t we all?), don’t miss this exercise. It will only serve to sharpen your focus, ignite your fire, and build your confidence. Is there any better way to start a New Year?

Your friend,

Lauren
xxx