Team Alpha 375

What will be "new" about your new year?

The Old New...what's already changed
You might be highly excited as you anticipate the coming year. Or, you might be dreading the thought of being stuck in the same old situation that's not working. Or, somewhere in between. Whatever your situation, your planning for 2011 would benefit from taking a look at new resources that have come your way recently, and anticipating how you can now use those in the future. Ask yourself some questions:

• What were your successes this year, and what new knowledge have they given you?
• What were your most challenging or difficult times? What disappointments did you experience? How have these made you stronger, wiser, more resilient?
• What have you learned from others this past year?
• How have you changed as an employee? A business owner? A manager?
• What did you discover about yourself this past year that you didn't know before?
• How are you a different person today than you were a year ago?

Take some time to reflect on all you've gotten. Whether it felt to you like a "good" year or "bad" year, inevitably it was a year that included new things. And, new things always bring us something, whether it's a big new skill, or a small new insight. Celebrate what you've gotten, and think about how all of these will serve you going forward, and especially how you can intentionally use them going forward.

The New New...what could change

Now it's time to look forward. What are new things that you'd like to experience or try on for size? As you think of the coming year, make some choices on what you'd like to gain Some of these may be things that you plan to go out and actively pursue. Others may be things that you hope will come your way. Even by just stating our intentions, we can often set things in motion to start happening. Some ideas to consider:

• What's a new attitude that will help you shape your work or business in 2011?
• What are some new thoughts or mottos that would help you?
• What new habit are you willing to undertake?
• What new skill would you like to learn or get better at? Where could you learn it? Who could you learn it from?
• What risk are you willing to undertake this year?
• What are you hoping to attract into your life? Who are you hoping to attract?
• How would you like 2011 to be different for you?

Again, take time to reflect, and think about how much potential there is when we appreciate the path we've been on, and at the same time, dream up a new path to travel forward on. If you've felt at all "stuck" lately and want that to change, if you're not exactly where you want to be yet, or you're doing great and just want to keep moving forward, this is where it starts: the understanding that you're actually "new" every second of your life. The potential of what you could be 5 years from now, 5 days from now, or 5 seconds from now is limitless. With that kind of thinking, imagine the kind of year you could have!