I was recently interviewed for a book about living a passionate, purposeful life (what an honor!)  And although I daily catch myself being grateful for where I am, it must have been a while since I consciously contemplated how much I’ve accomplished in the past eight years as an entrepreneur.  I suddenly had an epiphany…  I realized that I spend so much time and energy pursuing my BHAGs (you know, the Big Hairy Audacious Goals) still looming seemingly-far on the horizon, I often forget to acknowledge how far I’ve come already.  What a humbling realization for someone who daily persuades her wonderful (and also crazy-overachieving) clients to pause and celebrate successes as they race towards the next BHAG!  So as we near the end of 2009, I invite all of us to pause for just a moment and reflect on how far we’ve come already.  After all, how else are we supposed to get ready and energized for the BHAGs 2010 has in store for us?

Each New Year provides an opportunity to release old disappointments, frustrations, failures and limiting beliefs and set in motion new goals, aspirations and maybe even life-long dreams.  Whenever you are doing this exercise, make-believe that today is the last day of the old year.  In front of you is a clean, can-do-anything, conquer-the-world slate!

Reflect, Celebrate, Let Go: This is a powerful exercise designed to put the current year in perspective and help you move forward into the New Year with loose ends firmly tied up. You will rediscover some wins that you forgot about and eliminate old energy drains as you move forward.  It’s time to validate and take ownership of all that you have accomplished in 2009.  There is a basic principle that whatever you appreciate and give thanks for will get even better.

• On a piece of paper list (or create a symbol that represents) disappointments, losses, limiting beliefs and non-empowering perspectives you are willing to leave in 2009 (or the entire 2000 decade!)  Take the list of what you’d like to rework, rethink or leave behind and symbolically burn, shred or tear it into the past.
• Now make a list of your accomplishments, wins, successes, breakthroughs, milestones, ahas, insights, and lessons learned.  What/who are you most grateful for?  What are you most proud of?  Give examples from your personal as well as your professional life.  Remember, we’re human beings, not human doings.  It’s all connected!

It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate both the successes and the failures – they have probably shaped your life, work and perspective this year (not to mention decade and lifetime!) quite profoundly.  Now I know what you’re thinking, what about NEXT year’s goals?  Well, that’s for the January Newsletter is for, so please come back for your BHAG-setting ritual next time :).

If you’d like support reflecting, strategizing and / or flying forward, please don’t hesitate to contact me.  Upon further reflection, it turns out I have a pretty fabulous record of helping other clients do just that over the past eight years :).

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