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Did you happen to read my last post from January 3rd? If so did you do the homework–review your last 12 months looking for the successes, ahas, ways you grew, people who touched you, etc? If so, you ought to be in a pretty good place to plan the next 12. Reviewing what was good and what you did do, vs lamenting and worrying over what you didn’t, puts you in a positive, successful frame of mind. You feel good about yourself right?

The first step in setting goals that you love, that excite you, and that you are likely to reach boomer women, is to dream a little. Something busy solopreneurs rarely take time to do.

This step also requires a piece of paper, some quiet time, and a juicy, stress relieving “shut up!” directed at the editor, the little voice, the fear based, freaked out, comfort zone protector we all have running constantly in our brains. 

Once you are comfortable and ready to go your assignment is this: write down anything that comes to mind that you would love to see happen or become a part of your life. No boundaries, no limits, no “how will I?”s just write til you have emptied your head of the ideas that are swirling around craving recognition. Somewhere in the chaos are the gems of your particular dreams which match your talents that it’s time to get on with. If you don’t immediately see the value in this exercise, do it anyway, you  might be surprised.

Remember, this is not a goal creation list, it’s the first step and a process to help you see ideas you might not have if you just sat down and started with 1. Lose weight, 2. stop procrastinating etc. Besides, do those sound like goals you could fall in love with? 

Once your brain feels empty, put the list or lists down. That’s all you have to do for today. Tomorrow you’ll go back to the list–or at least wait a few hours–you’ll pick the paper up and look at it with a view to finding the clues to what you really want to take on, change, create, enjoy, add or subtract from your current day to day.

Play with this, have fun with it, who cares if “ride a camel” comes up and you have no idea why or where it goes in terms of the next 12 months. I’ve had “ride an elephant” on my wish list for years and it stays there because it’s something I really want to do, it’s just not a priority yet. One year “leave the restaurant business” came up and onto my list and I had no idea why or how I’d do that but here I am, some years later, a certified coach, speaking, writing, enjoying all sorts of things I couldn’t imagine the “how” of back then. When I saw it on paper though, I knew this idea meant business and my mind set about looking for the answer to “how?”

Let me know if you use this tool to get started planning a new year or new project even. If not, how do you get started creating goals you can fall in love with vs goals that feel like shoulds?

I’m a big fan of the concept of inspired action. What’s that you ask? It’s an action we take because we had a thought pop up that had an emotional connection when it arose.

Like what? Like seeing a book, DVD, or CD series in a store or on a website and even though it’s not something you’d usually be attracted to,  you want to buy and try it. Or you suddenly want to sign up for a support group for changing your eating habits that meets once per week. (”are you nuts” I hear someone scream from the back of the room, “never gonna happen.” But it might if you are open and let go of the controls)

The inspired action is the follow through. 

Well here’s a DVD that I’m excited to see that just might be the tool you need to get you started or help you stay with your chosen program and see even more results. It’s called Think and Get Slim and it’s the latest production from Esther and Jerry Hicks via Abraham. If you are not familiar with the teachings of Abraham be open and check out their website. If you have had the pleasure I encourage you to watch the 10 minute sample from the 2 DVD set. And if you’ve not been to their site in awhile I think you’ll love the new look. Don’t miss the free audio files and comments from Abraham on the state of our economy and more.

Change is all about doing what’s not comfortable at first. And living midlife with a vengeance has plenty of room for good changes and uncomfortable feelings because let’s face it, at this point, most of us are pretty darn comfortable–even if we don’t like the picture we’ve painted. 

If not a new DVD then what’s in your toolbox for creating your best new year?

So it’s the day after Thanksgiving here in the US and I have a question midlife women–what kind of exercise will you do this weekend? “Why do you ask?” you might ask. Because if you are anything like me it’s helpful to have someone remind me to include this uber beneficial activity in my long weekend with leftovers lurking in every corner of the kitchen. Hey, we have yesterday’s extra calories to get rid of but that’s not all. 

Yes, the holiday season has officially started bringing with it the once-a-year-only delicious morsels, parties, and longer than usual to-do lists. In our already busy lives, these rituals can squeeze out our much needed exercise program. Skipping exercise is never a good thing but when temptation in the form of food and libations beckon ditching that walk or spin class is the surest way to the Holiday 5. Hate to break it to you, if it was a 5 pound weight gain in our 30’s and 40’s it’s an 8 - 10 pound gain in our 50’s.

Rather than fretting let’s do something different this year. Let’s plan some movement into our month rather than trying to squeeze it in as the days progress. Oh, and if you are of the mindset that “it’s already the end of the year, I’ll just party like it’s 1999, eat what I want, and start my new lifestyle habits in the new year” I have a question for you? How has that kind of thinking worked for you in the past?

Starting on Dec. 1st I’m going to give you tips to party smart and avoid the Holiday 5 (10). I am not asking you to starve, forgo treats, or stay home like Cinderella all season. I’m going to give you easy ways to manage it all and not gain the weight. 
Wouldn’t it be a bonus if you woke up on January 1st feeling like a success before you even looked at your new year creation plan?

I can’t wait to hear your success stories.