Do This, Before the Ball Drops!
Depending on your feelings about seasonal music, social events, gift giving and excessive joy, December is either a speedy whirlwind or a painfully slow crawl.
Either way, I’d like to share seven questions that I recommend you consider to help you get clear about what you want to manifest in 2023. Try to set aside some time before the ball drops to write down your answers. You’ll be glad you did. Here’s to a year ahead of creating all that you want in your life.
1. Who Fills Me Up?
Introvert or extrovert, we all need connection. One of the things I’ve noticed during these Covid years is that most people are being more thoughtful about who they give their time to. Now is a great time to think about the people in your world with whom you’d like to spend more quality time in the year ahead. Consider your work colleagues, your old friends, family members, and all those peripheral people who might enrich your life if they were closer. As 2023 kicks off, make a concerted effort to bring your joyful relationships to greater prominence in your life.
2. What would I like to let go of in 2023?
We all hold onto things that no longer serve us, mostly because we’re unaware of the drag they exert. Perhaps you’re clutching an outdated self-identity that helped you thrive at one point but is limiting you now. Maybe it’s a friendship that once worked but now leaves you feeling depleted. Or maybe it’s a well-honed way of reacting to things that you’d be happier replacing with a different response. See if you can come up with a “Let Go” list and…start letting go.
3. What support do I need to grow in the year ahead?
Work and life stay fresh and exciting as long as we’re learning and growing. Think about a place in your life where you hope to learn, stretch or expand. Perhaps it’s time to take a class to improve a skill or learn something new. Maybe you need support from a coach, a therapist, or an advisor. Maybe it’s time to find a formal mentor. Or maybe you need to change your mind with a psychedelic journey. Whatever the support you’re seeking, don’t hold back getting it in 2023.
4. What agreements feel too loose?
If you know me, you know I’m a big believer in the importance of agreements for anchoring all important relationships. I’ve done webinars about this and I’ve shared this recording about the distinction between agreements vs expectations. I encourage you to listen to it, and then to think about where in your life you have relationships that are too loosely defined by expectations. It may be time to be vulnerable and take the bold step of introducing or refining your agreements.
5. What is one essential thing I want to have happen in my life (work or non-work) that would make 2023 amazing?
So many things, planned and unplanned, happen over the course of a year. But for most of us, there is one thing (or maybe two or three) that would be super meaningful. What is awaiting you in your year ahead that, if you could achieve it, would go a long way towards making for a spectacular year? Being clear on a big goal like this can give you purpose, focus, and a powerful way to attract the things you need to make your goal real. Need help answering this? Set up an hourlong Possibility Session (no charge), and I’ll help.
6. What is my word or phrase for 2023?
One of my clients introduced me to this idea, which is to declare a word or phrase that will serve as an anchor for your year ahead. This forces you to think about the intention and energy you want to bring into your days. Past words that have served me have been Open, Connection, Expansion and Patience. My word for 2023 is … drumroll … “Community.” Have fun declaring yours. I suggest printing it out and posting it somewhere prominent so you can summon your word when needed.
7. Who do you want to thank before the year ends?
Expressing thanks is such a simple way to make someone else – and yourself – feel great. It’s one of the best ROIs you can get for the effort required. One of my favorite learnings from the book Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals is the importance of sharing gratitude as soon as possible when you’re feeling it. Don’t let the moment of thanking someone get away from you. So, make a list of people you’re grateful for. Then, before year end, send a text, an email, a letter, or something wonderful (a box of chocolates, perhaps?!). Just make sure that you don’t miss out on this simple and inexpensive way of making your life and others’ that much better.