Let's Remember 2013's Successes Before We Set 2014's Goals

All around me I'm hearing people talk about moving into 2014, visioning for 2014, preparing for new year's resolutions, setting goals for the new year, and on and on. I'm feeling rushed into the new year! I'm not behind the 8-ball, the 8-ball is fast on my behind, and I don't like the pressure.

Don't get me wrong, I will set intentions for the new year, pick a word for the new year with Abbey of the Arts, and have goals for the coming year, but geewiz, I still have almost 2 weeks left in 2013!! It seems like nobody's talking about taking time to reflect.  I feel the same way when retailers put christmas decorations up right after halloween. "I WANT MY THANKSGIVING!" I scream internally.

Well, "I WANT TO REFLECT ON THIS YEAR!" Sheesh, I've done a lot of good work! I need a little time to relish it, to roll in it, and feel good about it.

Let me be the voice of holiday reason. 'Tis the season to reflect, review, reminisce, congratulate, and take stock of our progress. It's a time to give kudos, and consider what could be done differently.

I'm so busy being pushed to create new goals for next year that I don't even know if I accomplished my goals for this year! Can I get an "amen" please?

I recently spoke on a panel at the Studio City Holistic Chamber of Commerce meeting. We were talking about how to succeed with setting and keeping new year's resolutions. The first thing I addressed was the importance of looking at where we came from in order to look at where we need to go. This harkens to my August post about my annual "birthday success inventory". Here are a few questions you can ask yourself about this year before you move into next year:

1. What did you accomplish this year?
2. What did you do well this year? What did you do especially well this year?
3. Did you meet the goals you set for yourself this year?
4. Where did you struggle this year? What could you improve on?
5. Did you learn anything that you can apply for next year that would help you have a more meaningful, successful coming year?
6. If you could do things differently, what would you do differently and how?
7. Come up with your own questions too

A friend of mine, Tana Guadi, a marvelous life coach, encouraged me (in a coaching session) to write a letter to myself, thanking myself for all the good things I did this year, and for all the ways I showed up for myself. I wrote the letter. WOW! What amazing insight I gleaned from my gentle, wise, wondrous self.

So the message I want to leave you with is, "if you are going to pile one more thing on your already hectic, holiday schedule let it be to finish out this year and take stock of it, before you move into next year!"

Practice Engaging Your Inner Wisdom:

Can you take a half an hour, a day, or a weekend to review 2013? Can you pull out your 2013 wish list, dust it off, and see if any of it came true? What about writing a letter to yourself to tell yourself what a good job you did this year? Have you thought about giving yourself a bonus? Consider what you can do to bring closure to 2013 - to feel good about your successes and reduce your weaknesses. Wishing you all the best at the close of the year!

Supporting the Success of Others

We are happy to have this blog post be part of the
Winter Solstice Blog Hop

Over the past few months, Chantel and I have focused on helping you recognize and achieve success in a variety of forms.  We began with a success inventory and built on that by contemplating a unique aspect of who we are and how that shapes our success.  Then, we looked at time, trust, and identity through the lens of success.  In our last post, Chantel used leaves falling from the trees to talk about letting go of what's preventing us from being successful.

As we enter the holiday season, Chantel and I would like to change our success focus to helping others achieve success.  As you go out to shop for gifts for friends and loved ones, consider how your spending power can help others achieve success.  In short, support a local artist or artisan, a mom and pop store, someone in your community.

We'd like to offer a little incentive by sharing three things with you - some great quotes about helping others, an example of some of the local places Chantel supports, and an opportunity for you to win something from us.

As I contemplated this post, I looked for quotes to inspire me and would like to share three of them with you in addition to the one above.

"The best way not to feel hopeless is to get up and do something.  Don't wait for good things to happen to you.  If you go out and make good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope."  Barack Obama.

"Even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water - it will make ripples throughout the entire pond."  -  Jessy and Bryan Matteo

"If you're not making someone else's life better, then you're wasting your time.  Your life will become better by making other lives better."  - Will Smith

Below you will find my (Chantel's) list of the local artists, musicians, retailers and restaurants I support. I live in Los Angeles, so if you live in the area or plan to visit soon, make a point of stopping in to one or all of them. You can also order online from some of these organizations.

Finally, we would like to give something to you.  In the spirit of supporting a local business or artist, I should mention that Chantel and I are both local artists and business professionals.  Therefore, I am offering a copy of my novel, The Son of Nine Sisters.  Chantel is offering three thirty minute coaching sessions  and a copy of an Eddie Edwards and the Psychedelic Spurs CD .  To win one of these gifts, simply email us and let us know which gift you prefer and we will enter you into the drawing for that gift.

Art Supplies

Soft Expressions

Mind, Body, Spirit Classes, Events, & Workshops

Art and Soul Lab
 
The Yoga Loft

Heart of Voice
 

Be the Change Energy Center
 

Shelley Bell - Laughter Yoga

Barbara Schiffman - AKashic Records

Carole Pilkington - Astrology

Music

Eddie Edwards & the Psychedelic Spurs
 

Stella Davies

Debra DeLahunty

Ter Lieberstein - Loving Stone Productions

Peter Jack Rainbird

Food

The Green Temple
 

Follow Your Heart

Retail

Harmony Works

Made in the Valley
 

Michi Olson

Kim Jones - Sugar Skull 77

Holistic Business

Holistic Chamber of Commerce

Non-Profits

Sustainable Works

Southern California Foster Family & Adoption Agency

The Labyrinth Society

Veriditas

Holy Spirit Retreat Center

Prince of Peace Church

West Valley Food Pantry

Shadowland Foundation

Practice Engaging Your Inner Wisdom
Karen and I would love it if you would list, in the comments section below, the local businesses YOU support. Include the city where people can find these businesses and put a website or phone number so that people can reach them.

Remember that by shopping locally, you keep money in the local economy, help a neighbor stay afloat financially, and support passionate entrepreneurs.

We thank YOU for your support of Engaging Inner Wisdom all year! Good luck on winning one of our prizes!

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